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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: woodystyle777 on January 09, 2014, 08:08:00 PM

Title: What is your method for applying clear coat?
Post by: woodystyle777 on January 09, 2014, 08:08:00 PM
Hey guys! About to make my first set of arrows and was curious about the finishing stage.

I watched Raptor Archery's video on Arrow Making and he completely submerged the shafts into clear coat, and then hung them up letting them drip dry.

Is this better than using a dip tube with a squeegee?  Seems like his method would keep more of the clear coat on than squeegeeing a lot of it off?

What is your method for the clear coat stage?
Title: Re: What is your method for applying clear coat?
Post by: Bowjunkie on January 09, 2014, 08:41:00 PM
Wipe on regular gloss Minwax poly. Dries super fast, easy, cheap, available everywhere, no tubes and junk sitting around..... it actually dries a nice satin when wiped on too.
Title: Re: What is your method for applying clear coat?
Post by: woodystyle777 on January 09, 2014, 08:58:00 PM
how many coats and how long does it take to dry between coats?
Title: Re: What is your method for applying clear coat?
Post by: darin putman on January 09, 2014, 10:13:00 PM
I love the massey finish, I use denatured alcohol instead of acetone. 5 or 6 coats for my arrows, mix, wipe on 8 hours later another coat, extremely durable finish!!
Title: Re: What is your method for applying clear coat?
Post by: bigbob2 on January 13, 2014, 02:47:00 AM
would an airbrush with .5mm nozzle be capable of spraying marine spar varnish or would I need a bigger jet? I know nothing about airbrushes which shouldn't be too hard to realise.
Title: Re: What is your method for applying clear coat?
Post by: EHK on January 16, 2014, 03:10:00 PM
For arrows, I like to dip in PVC tubes full of minwax polycrylic.  It dries pretty fast and has little if any odor at all.  Thin it down till it runs off the shafts like water and one can of poly will go a very long way.
Title: Re: What is your method for applying clear coat?
Post by: Brock on January 16, 2014, 03:28:00 PM
I dont like a high gloss on anything I am going to hunt with....

on my arrows after I am done staining them...I wipe them down with steel wool to smooth them.  Then I put a coat of water based wipe-on poly from MinWax on the entire shaft...put in my holder and let dry.  I will do 4-6 coats...lightly rubbing with steel wool or scotchbrite pad in between dry coats to knock off any imperfections or dust that settled in finish.

they come out with a mild matte/satin finish...but are sealed pretty good against moisture.
Title: Re: What is your method for applying clear coat?
Post by: Dmaxshawn on January 16, 2014, 03:39:00 PM
Big Jims Buffalo Hide with a pre-val sprayer.  three-four coats gloss then barnish it and spray on three-four coats of satin in a matte finish