stain and sealer for arrows?

[osagestick90]

Looking to build my own arrows I've got shafts feathers fletching jig and nocks on they way.

But I'm wondering if I can stain and seal them reasonably well without dip tubes and would like something readily avalible, like a lowes or  hardware store items.

As this is my first crack at it I'm just wanting to make a shootable no frills arrow also simple to make.

Also using fletching tape, my only experince in wood finnishing is two rifle stocks I stripped and refinished

Any advice?

[Rock 'N Bow]

Minwax water based stain and wipe on polyurethane work great. The stain can be mixed to your desired color at Home Depot. A minimum of 3 coats of the polyurethane makes for a durable arrow.

[Hud]

There are several build along videos in the Resource forum.  Rob has a nice one.  The answer is yes. If you use Rite dye, some colors are better than others. Yellow is hard to get dark. Mixing dye with Rubbing Alcohol works better than water.  Watch the video.

[Gator1]

Keep us posted some great arrow smiths here will help out a great deal

   

[Ric O'Shay]

Originally posted by Rock 'N Bow:
Minwax water based stain and wipe on polyurethane work great. The stain can be mixed to your desired color at Home Depot. A minimum of 3 coats of the polyurethane makes for a durable arrow.

That's what I use. For me, it works great. The only issue is that you need to be patient with the drying time for poly. Give yourself a couple days drying for each coat. Building the arrows are half the fun of shooting them.

[centaur]

Originally posted by Ric O'Shay:
 

Originally posted by Rock 'N Bow:
Minwax water based stain and wipe on polyurethane work great. The stain can be mixed to your desired color at Home Depot. A minimum of 3 coats of the polyurethane makes for a durable arrow.

That's what I use. For me, it works great. The only issue is that you need to be patient with the drying time for poly. Give yourself a couple days drying for each coat. Building the arrows are half the fun of shooting them. [/b]

Yep, yep, and yep.

[John Nail]

sure. You can buy poly with stain already in it

[dtarbell]

I know you didnt ask but you can buy one of those tubes they use to put golf clubs in and make it into a dip yube for a couple of bucks.At the auto parts store Ive had them mix up a quart of automotive lacquer any color you want.Ive made some pretty cool looking arrows with it and also some I didnt want to be seen with.

[Biathlonman]

Yellow can of minwax stain at walmart and silver can of wipe on poly next to it.  Fletchtape works great.  That combo and rustoleum spray paint for caps is all I use.

[gringol]

Minwax wipe on, tung oil, and tru oil can all be wiped on with a rag and come out looking great.

[cuboodle]

You should consider making a dip tank it's simple and will cost you about 8 bucks saves so much time and it's worth it only if your going to make a few arrows which will turn into a bunch because it's addicting!!!!!
 
Coffee can lid snaps on top

[Brock]

I have been doing it for years....Minwax water based stain...two or three coats depending on how much grain in the doug fir shafts I want to show.  I lightly rub with steel wool (or Scotchbrite pad)to smooth out any grain that pops or dust.

When dry I get some shotgun cleaning patches...put on gloves and then soak one of the patches in Minwax Wipe On Poly....coat shaft good and let dry.  I drilled 12 holes in section of 4x4 to use as stand so tip of arrow after it has had tapers put on each end will fit in hole and only touch at the taper.

When dry completely I rub with Scotchbrite pad lightly up and down shaft. You can tell when it is smooth again without removing the finish you applied.  I do this three or four or more times depending on if I want a satin or high gloss finish.  After couple days of doing this I apply final goat...when dry either leave as it is or scotchbrite depending if I want some shine or satin look.

Let dry a couple days...then fletch.  I enjoy doing them like this rather than dipping as I am not doing it for business or to keep others in arrows.  It is like an annual rite of passage...build a set of arrows for upcoming season for specific bow I am going to use off the wall...or for something new I have that I have no arrows yet.  Seeing the shafts change from raw wood to finished arrow over a few days is magical...the smell of wood...the smell of stain...the poly....the smoothness of shaft....glue while fletching, installing nocks, installing field points and broadheads (I always do 6 and 6)...spinning them until true on wood or plastic surface...and then taking one to shoot for good luck.

it is all about the experience to me..not efficiency.

[juneaulongbow]

Haven't made any in a while but I use Fiebing leather stains and then Minwax Helmsman Spar Urethane.

[East Coast archer]

Another minwax, fiebing, or lost nation stain user along with minwax wipe on poly gloss user.  Let the stain dry a day and then depending on temp and humidity it usually takes about  3 to 8 hours for the wipe on poly to dry with steel wool 0000 in between coats.  I usually do 4 coats then crest with a water based paint, let that dry and do one last coat of the wipe on poly and let that dry overnight before I fletch.  Try to let the arrows sit a full 24 hours between the last coat of poly and when I actually shoot them.  No fumes, no mess besides a dirty cloth from the stain and wipe on poly and I can get everything from a local Wally World or hardware store.  The finish on the commercial dip stuff is definitely harder but to me since I can only make them in the house is not worth the fumes.

[SuperK]

I use Tru-oil for a sealer.  Works great, apply with my fingers (wear a latex glove) and you can touch up spots if you get some wear.  Just about any stain will work; however, I don't like water-based stain.

[FXJr]

What glue for fletching do you all use with the Minwax stain and Minwax Poly?
 Frank X.

[macbow]

Duco works with most of those.
I also use a thick CA glue sold by Grizzly tool co.

[Machino]

I use Bohning tape on the min-wax poly finish and bohning platinum for the ends of the feathers.  Duco also seems to hold well.

[FXJr]

Thanks for the replies on the glue. I really like all the information from this site and the people willing to share their passion.
Frank X.

[osagestick90]

Well the fletch tite platinum does not like minwax fast drying poly. The fletch tape was not very fun my first try. Glue seemed easier so I squirted some on closed the EZ-fletch jig waited 10 minutes popped it open and the feathers stayed in the jig.

I even roughed up the area and used lighter fluid to clean it then dried area. If left closed for almost two hours they stuck, but I dont trust them to stay on.

Should I try duco?