I have admired the beauty of crested arrows for some time now and think I would like the project of making my own, except for one thing - Are you concerned about breakage and damage after spending time making a thing of beauty?

When I'm shooting pretty much anything other than a foam target I tend to damage quite a few arrows. Do you have separate arrows for stumping, target practice and hunting? Which do you spend the most time on cresting and generally making pretty?

For those that do crest carbons, what's your process? Commercial arrow crester and enamel paints?

I crested my aluminum and wood arrows for thirty some years using bohning products first with a home made crester and then I bought one.  The last five years I've went to carbons with wraps and have not had much success cresting that holds up well.  Some here  do and I'm sure they will speak up.  I do miss the process and the looks.

I did dip some carbons but when it was time to refletch I didn't like how the acetone removed the the factory finish.  Never  tried any of the more user friendly  environmental products.

All of my arrows are crested. I usually shoot gold tip wood grain blems. I usually start with white spray paint. I use createx air brush paint to crest over the white. I use the white as a base coat as I go over it with fluorescent paint and it is not bright if you just use it over the arrow. After its crested I dip the crested portion in the varathane floor finish I use on wood arrows. Then let it dry and fletch.

They hold up pretty good after being dipped. I like the look of pretty wood arrows. I shoot both wood and carbon. Most people dont know that my arrows are carbon unless they are scoring my rounds and pull them out of the wall.

I dip crest and fletch all my own arrows. It is easier than you think.i use a spin right crester and bohning lacquers for the base dip. Then I use model paint for cresting. I also membrane splice my feathers and burn them. It's nice to have people comment on how well they look. Plus I just love building them. I don't worry about breaking or loosing arrows. Once you start building your own you start to hunt down arrows and shafts and you'll be surprised how cheap you will find some.

All of them. Black eagle appears to have done a fine job. The only modification that I made was a little extra glue at the front of the feathers.

I dip crest and fletch all my own arrows. It is easier than you think.i use a spin right crester and bohning lacquers for the base dip. Then I use model paint for cresting. I also membrane splice my feathers and burn them. It's nice to have people comment on how well they look. Plus I just love building them. I don't worry about breaking or loosing arrows. Once you start building your own you start to hunt down arrows and shafts and you'll be surprised how cheap you will find some.

None; like the way they look but not worth the minimal effort to me at this time.

None.

Along this line, has anybody gotten experience using any sort of paints on carbon shafts ?  I would spend some time this winter making some nice looking arrows ( dipped, crested ) but am unsure of the paints which might hold up.  Guidance here would be appreciated..

I have simply spray painted wood shafts before, with really good results, and used colored markers for the cresting.  That was fun.  What about on carbon though.
Chuck

I doctored up a half dozen for a buddy using Testor's paints over a rattle-can cap (flat white base under red gloss). Wiped Min-wax water based poly over it for protection. Turned out nice. Fletch tape for feathers. No pics since they include his c-bow.

I have a few I plan to pretty up when they need re-fletching.

I crest my 3-D arrows but my last set of hunting arrows I left bare except for a 2" band of reflective tape.

I use Krylon Fusion, sand and use acetone to clean first. Mask and spray several coats, 0000 steel wool between coats.

Crest with water based model paint or cresting paints and seal with Wipe On Poly. They hold up for years, no worse that woodies.

It sounds like there are quite a options that work.

Let's see some photos!

I spray cap mine sometimes. I would like to crest but I dont have a machine and havent been happy with my attempts at a jig.


Sometimes I just spray cap then put a small band taped off and paint that too.


The best spray paint IMO is oil based enamel.    Then I use fletch tape and superglue to avoid any possible reactions.

Here is a set I am working on now.

I usually use wraps and crest those. But I have a friend who insist I paint them for him. I use either Krylon or Rustolem spray paints. The ones for outside plastic furniture. I only wipe down the shafts with Acetone first. I also over coat the finished cresting. Had no issues so far. I use Saunders NPV glue to fletch.

Arrow Dynamics Trad


Easton FMJ


New FMJ 6mm Autumn Orange shafts

I remove factory cresting and cap and crest them (woods, carbons or aluminum)

Very nice, what paints do you use Trap?

Krylon spray paint for crown, Testors model paint for crest and then dipped in water based poly (3 coats) that's been thinned down.

Crested carbons.
   

Hunting arrow (not crested)
 

Life's too short to hunt with ugly bows and arrows. Bend them, break them, shoot them through stuff and then go make some more.