Anyone use tru oil as a finish on wooden shafts?
I haven't worked with it in years but Im redoing a bow and forgot what a nice finish it provides.
What adhesive will glue the feathers to it?
I don't use any tung oil finishes. Glue does not adhere well to it. The exception may be some cyan-acrylates (super glues).
Fletching tape will work fine...I just finished some arrows with Linspeed
DDave
I have used it for POC shafts, and it makes a great finish. I always used Duco as a fletching adhesive, and never had any problems.
I have also used it to refinish an old, beat up TD riser, and it worked perfectly and looked great when it was done.
Remember, many thin layers are better than fewer thicker layers.
I have used it- Simple and effective for arrows or bows. Used Fletch Tape for feathers.
I have used it on some cane arrows and used Duco to glue feathers and nock and they are still going strong after a few years.
Jack
I've used Tru-Oil for wood arrows and used fletch tape for fletching.
I cant say, never used it on arrows. It is gorgeous on gun stocks and bows. However I heard straight from a very reputable bow maker, that tru oil will not work well with Bocote, and I suspect any oily type woods would be the same.
Seems like it would be thick and heavy for arrows....idk though, never used it for that...just thinking.
I see. Don't care for fletch-tape. It gets soft in high heat environments like in antelope blinds. I used it once, never again...
Duco works great with Truoil. Never gave me any problems.
Duco works great with Tru Oil. However, Duco is getting hard to find, and when you do find it the shelf life is usually expired.
Use Tru Oil on arrows all the time, with Loctite 401 to stick the fletching on. Works well for me.
I used it a lot on ash arrows. Duco was great with it. You will get a lot of target burn with it, though.
Killdeer
I'm kind of surprised that Tru-Oil is a tough enough finish for arrows. I've used it on traditional muzzleloader builds, and it provides a beautiful finish, but I never would have thought to use it for wood arrow finish.
For those who have used it, do you finger apply it in sparing thin coats like with a gun stock and if so, how many coats are you putting on?
I use a lint-free cloth to apply while wearing disposable nitrile gloves - I don't like having to clean Tru Oil off my hands. I use four thin coats, rubbed-out with steel wool after each coat.
I haven't had a problem with target burn. This could be because I use a final coat of carnauba wax, or it could be because my arrows don't last too long - still working on accuracy.
Used it on some walnut footed cedars back in 1990. Looked real pretty, until the quiver gripper left compression marks.
Used duco, no problems still have the arrows, shot my first selfbow deer with one in '91. Feathers still tight to the shaft!
Truoil? No but I used "French polish "which really made the arrows glow and look good. Funny I don't remember the recipe
But I got it from Traditional Bowyers Bible Vol 3.
Easier to dip 2 coats of polyurethane and a tougher more waterproof finish .
Tru oil is great stuff, I used it on some ash shafts,worked fine but imho its easier and faster to use poly or similar finish