Silicon or fletch powder for waterproofing?

Bivyhunter · August 26, 2013, 03:13:00 PM

Leaving for a Colorado alpine mule deer hunt on Thursday and KNOW I'll be getting wet. Please weigh in on your preferences and any negative experiences using one or the other.
Thanks!

Bear Heart · August 26, 2013, 03:22:00 PM

No sno. It rains here and that is the best I have found other than keeping fletches out of the rain.

eflanders · August 26, 2013, 03:24:00 PM

If you use spray silicone, I found out the hard way that the stuff I used liked to release the glue on my fletches...

macbow · August 26, 2013, 03:43:00 PM

The no snow works pretty good.
The powder also works but be careful not to breath it in.

Gdpolk · August 26, 2013, 03:52:00 PM

I've been tempted to try NeverWet:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZrjXSsfxMQ

From what I've read online about the product (which has been around long before pairing up with Rustoleum) it is supposed to work exactly as advertised but wears off quickly with abrasion. I'm thinking about treating my 4 hunting arrows with this product this year as they shouldn't get too much abrasions prior to shooting them.

Bob Gulliksen · August 26, 2013, 05:15:00 PM

Just use unscented hair spray. A lot cheaper.

LB_hntr · August 26, 2013, 05:30:00 PM

I did some testing a couple years ago when i was trying to figure out the best way to waterproof feathers and was not happy with any of the products out there especially when you are rubbing feathers against clothing, bushes, etc.
What i did find that works awesome is to wrap a piece of seran wrap around the fletching if each arrow. then use the little clear rubber bands that girls use to finish braids in their hair (one of the perks of having a little girl in the house...lol) to hold the seran wrap forward of the fletching. when you are ready to shoot just yank the seran wrap off the back of the arrow and you are ready to go. dont worry about the little rubber band that stays on the arrow it will not affect anything. The seran wrap is pretty quite and does a gerat job of keeping your feathers dry until you are ready to shoot.
I even leave the weran wrap on the feathers when i am in a tree stand and the arrow is on my bow. then when i see a deer i can pull the seran wrap off as i grab the bow.
Its the best system i have found so far. I will actually be doing a video about this soon and will post it whe i make it. I just wnated to make sure and tell you about this option incase you wanted to try it for you hunt.

DKdc · August 26, 2013, 05:37:00 PM

If you are heading to to SW colorado you will need something. I just cut the bottom out of a ziplock and rubber band above and below he arrows on the quiver. This seems to work the best for really heavy everyday rain like we have been getting. Good luck and maybe we will see you out there.
DK

stagetek · August 26, 2013, 05:45:00 PM

No Snow. It's an aerosol and works great.

LongbowArchitect · August 26, 2013, 06:54:00 PM

I find that ScotchGuard works the best for me.

Slickhead · August 26, 2013, 07:23:00 PM

rain x

Bivyhunter · August 26, 2013, 07:40:00 PM

Wow! Lots of options. I checked out the NeverWet link. Pretty impressive! I picked up some at my local hardware store, ouch! At $23 it's an expensive experiment, but the YouTube video looked pretty convincing. I think I might treat one with powder, one with No Snow and one with NeverWet and see what holds up best.... I'll have to look in the garage to see if I have any RainX

Car54 · August 26, 2013, 07:55:00 PM

Has anyone tried the Kiwi Camp Dry spray?

moleman · August 26, 2013, 08:13:00 PM

Just a bit of warning for those who wear glasses, silicone spray works great on fletching , but if you get it on your lenses, you might as well plan on a new pair on glasses.
I tried silicone last season, and even by being as careful as possible still transfered a bit of silicone onto my lenses........needless to say, that after trying everything possible to remove it, i had to scrap the glasses and get new ones.

widow sax · August 26, 2013, 08:45:00 PM

Revivx air dry the stuff in a aerosol can recommended by Gortex for on there garments. This stuff is amazing that is what I use. Widow

Jake Fr · August 26, 2013, 10:35:00 PM

I use liquid rollers it for boat trailer rails it water proofs drys fast and is slick to the touch works awesome

Gdpolk · August 26, 2013, 11:11:00 PM

Yes, the NeverWet is very expensive for what you get but the videos and reviews seem convincing enough that I am trying it. I am putting some on my fletching, some on my wool hat, and some on my Asbell mackinaw. I figure the hat and mackinaw will probably wear off by the end of the season from forging through the brush but I'm expecting the fletching to last all season.

wandering monk · August 27, 2013, 09:01:00 AM

I use something from fly fishing called "ginks" you put it on the fletch pretty good and let it dry...very good product used for dry flys...but works equally well on fletching...

BWallace10327 · December 07, 2013, 05:11:00 PM

Great thinking. I started fly fishing many years before I ever shot feathered arrows and Gink for water proofing fletching has never crossed my mind. I'm sure that would work very well.

December 07, 2013, 06:58:00 PM

I bought some stuff years ago, stay dry or something like that, trout fishermen used it back then. It worked great in the rain, but my feathers got to be very stiff and brittle when the temps got below 20 degrees. I tried Schotch Guard it was good for the day and that was about it. Do not use underarm antiperperant spray deoderant, what a mess that made.