I had been using a homemade sewing machine motor and rubber tubing crestor for about a decade.  It worked "well enough" for making my own arrows, but I always wanted something better.  I'd seen the Bohning deal, but that didn't seem like much of an improvement over my homemade rig.  I almost pulled the trigger on the old Arrow Specialties crestor a few times, but waited too long and they stopped production.

I found this one last summer at a rendezvous, now sold by J&M Traditions out of Sunbury, PA.  They basically took the old Arrow Specialties crestor, beefed it up, and improved it.  It cost an arm and a leg, but that was my big splurge for that trip.  I finally tried it out this weekend.  Oh man, it's nice.  The best thing is that the moveable guide and healthy downforce of the wheel keep the shafts spinning so, so straight so you get clean lines.  No need to thumb the shaft.  Plus, the design keeps a contant pull on the arrow towards the nock stop, so there's no nock receiver to mess with.  Finally, the motor/wheel assembly lifts up, so you can swap out arrows without flipping the on/off switch.  It's aluminum and very well made.  IMO, it's the Bitzenberger of arrow crestors.  

Thought I'd pass this along since I've never seen this thing advertised or sold outside of that single vendor at a rendezvous.  Really nice outfit if you've been looking for a top-notch crestor.  
           

nice  

What is the cost and how does it compare to the Phillips crester?

Thanks,
DB

looks like a well thought out crestor.

Archer, I just checked my receipt (still in the box).  If they're really $275 now, then they must have kicked it up $50 since summer.  

If the Philips is the one in the wooden box, then perhaps I've seen it at least.  Not sure if that's the one or not, though.  In any case, this thing is significantly beefier than whatever the wooden box one is, and has a fan built into the motor to be sure it runs cool.

This thing is definitely one of those luxury items.  If you've really got an itch for a good one though, this is it.  Just spent another hour with it on some ash shafts.  Really pleased.

That is one nice crestor. Have fun with it.

The Arrow Specialties Crestors are still being made.  Dave doesn't avdertise, does it by word of mouth.  They are running $175 TYD.  If interested I have contact information.

That looks like one finely built machine. I sure do like to crest arrows...now I just got to figure out what I can sell to get one. Definite improvement over my aging Bohning.

You say you don't have to fool with a nock adapter...what about us carbon cretans? Is there some sort of adapter for either a nock or a tube shaft? Or will it spin freely on that white button without any type of adapter?

Dave, Carbons shouldn't be an issue.  The motor/wheel is offset so that it spins the arrow with a constant pull towards the left of the machine.  The nock end spins freely against the white teflon disk.

What is the consensus between the Arrow Specialties and the Phillips?  They seem to run about the same price. That J&M Traditions ctrester does appear to be the ticket for someone needing a pro cresting machine that runs all day long, but I can't justify the cost for my needs if you're saying it runs over $250:(

DB

I have been using my Arrow Specialties for close to 10 yrs now it works great.  I have never used a Phillips so I can not help out there.

I helped design the Phillips Pro crester and have been using the original proto type for 16 years on a commercial basis. Use it almost daily still running fine.
The Arrow Specialties is a fine machine also, you won't go wrong with either one.
Bob

I bought an old Delta wood lathe for a bottle of Captin Morgan seems to work good too. Turns the arrow kind of fast but my cresting is still work in progress.
  Your right that does look like a great machine.

That looks NICE!  You're almost making me wish I didn't have a Phillips.

I bought that crestor from J&M this winter and like it very much..    

Shawn...

Sorry to bring to life an old thread but.....
I'm in the middle of making yet another home made crester after using the type that hold the arrow at the end in a rubber tube, also a shop bought one that was too flimsy for my liking.
I love the look of this crester, bold and beefy but I'm just wondering how the 2 wheels on the left, which are attached to the alloy plate actually move along the 2 rods? Are they simply resting on the baseboard? Anyone know?
Many thanks in advance,
Nige

I would say that the bracket that holds the two wheels rests on the base. You can see the bracket is folded and the base to sit flat on crester base.