I still shoot carbons and aluminums - haven't crossed over to woods yet (although there is an odd tug each season to try them). I love the look of custom cresting and really enjoy fletching arrows and seeing what I can come up with.
I've always ordered various solid colors from Onestringer.com and then done my cresting with sharpies and a ruler. If you take your time, it really makes a great looking crest. The one issue is that over time the wear and tear on a shaft messes up, fades, or smears the cresting. I ordered "clear" wraps this time and put those over the newly crested ones. What a difference that makes - no more nicks, smears, or anything. Just a tip I thought I'd share if anyone does the same - I believe they call them a "double dogg."
I bare shafted just to verify, and having 2 wraps did NOT change the spine.
You can also spray or dip them in polycrilic.
Just make sure they're completely dry before you do.
Why not crest first then put the clear wrap over.
QuoteOriginally posted by The Whittler:
Why not crest first then put the clear wrap over.
I think that is what he is saying he does.
I, too, crest with sharpies then cover the crested area with a layer of clear packing tape. Very inexpensive and it works great.
Water based poly might not cause the Sharpie ink to run. Do a test first. I used water based poly on most of the dowel arrows I made over the years.
I thought he had a wrap and crested then put another wrap clear over that or am I reading it wrong.
Yes...put a base color wrap on, crest with sharpies, then use a clear wrap on top of that. It protects the sharpie cresting which is easily smudged and damaged otherwise.
You're reading it correctly, Whittler. He even says TWO wraps don't change the spine. Can't see how it would be interpreted any differently.