I currently make cedar arrows using poly and enamel paints. I am considering switching to laquers. I have never used laquers and really don't know if there is a distinct advantage over poly/enamel. Can anybody help me out on this?

Poly is water cleanup, easier to use, and you can do it in the house. lacquer is messy, difficult to clean up, extremely flammable,  stinks to high Heaven, and sticks in target butts.

No contest for me.

gasket lacquer, on the other hand, is pretty easy to use, but I have heard that it doesn't hold up very well.

Bohning lacquers. They are vinyl based so aren't as brittle as other lacquers. All Bohning products work together so you don't have to worry about what glue sticks to what products.

if you use a dip tube with one of those rubber wippers on the cap 99% of the finishes are not messy at all.There's no excess run off the rubber cap wipes off all the excess finish.I've only ever used lacquer myself(old school).However if its applied to thick it will crack but again the wipper will normaly solve that problemo but as mentioned too.....it stinks.bd