I am making my Grandson some arrows for Christmas and he wants blue shafts with green feathers. What should I use to stain the shafts dark blue.

I had used RIT dye  that I had left over from a clothing dye project.I filled a PVC tube that had a cap on one end,and put the shafts in it and let them sit for 3hrs and then just a little steel wool after they dry.You can keep them in longer to get the color you want,it will dry lighter than when wet.

I have used Fiebling leather dye for staining wood shafts,it comes in many different colors.I get mine from Tandy leather.Or you can get some Easton Blues shafts,an all blue aluminum arrow shaft.

I have used spray paint to get an all blue shaft.

Just dye them pink, when he hunts in cold weather they'll turn blue  

Fiebings leather dye from Tandy is great.  Vivid colors too.

I used Rit,I think I used alcohol as a solvent.

Haven't seen it anywhere for a while but I had good luck with the plasti-kote odds and ends using a sponge brush.

I'm doing the same for my kids for their Christmas arrow shafts.   I'm doing the same as groundhawg and  Ipcjon2 using Rit dye with alcohol.   It works great!   Make sure you check the compatibility of the sealant over the Rit dye!

I have used leather dyes, but some leech badly if you dip them in lacquer afterwards.  Not a problem unless you later try clear dipping another color.

Any Minwax stain will work.  Three Rivers Archery has all kinds of dyes for shafts.

Thanks for the tips guys!  I just used the Tandy water base Eco-Flo Leather stain (I don't think they carry the Fiebings anymore) on some 1/4" shafts and it worked great.  I sponged it on.  I will also use it on the leather quivers I plan to sew for my two daughters (4yrs, purple and 6yrs, blue).   I will sponge on minwax helmsman spar on the shafts after the stain dries.  

This is alot of fun.
Dave

I went to my local Tandy Leather to get some Fiebing's dye and the woman who owns it gave me a big song and dance about how it's illegal to sell in California, I'll never find it again, they've switched to a water-base dye which is just as good... blah, blah, blah.
I went to another leather shop and they've got whole shelves of Fiebing's dye for sale.

I never did like that woman.

Guy

Ya those Tandy sales people are, let's say, interesting.... but the water soluble stuff worked fine and the less solvents I use the better.

Guy, Do you have any recommendations for 1/4" shafts for kids arrows?  economical but straight?
Dave

Its not cheap but ya can use the water based poly spray on to seal.  I use it all the time.  About $10.99/can at Lowes

Dave, I actually don't have any issue with water-based products... that woman just irritates the heck out of me every time I step in the door.

For 1/4" shafts I've been using ramin. I purchased it while it was still available but it's more difficult to find now. I think 3Rivers used to carry it but I don't see it on their site now. Perhaps they've gone through their stock and been unable to replenish it.
A friend of mine uses 1/4" poplar for kid's arrows and has good results with it.

Guy

I use water based poly for floor in a dip tube at a 3 to 1 ratio with water on all my arrows.

I too use Rit dye and denatured alcohol

Thanks guys. I tried the Rit dye it worked great. There is going to be a very happy Grandson on Christmas morning.

You can get the staining products for 3rivers or kustom king.  I have some blue shafts that I made and boy did they come out blue.

QuoteOriginally posted by Grey Taylor:
I went to my local Tandy Leather to get some Fiebing's dye and the woman who owns it gave me a big song and dance about how it's illegal to sell in California, I'll never find it again, they've switched to a water-base dye which is just as good... blah, blah, blah.
I went to another leather shop and they've got whole shelves of Fiebing's dye for sale.

I never did like that woman.

Guy

Are they afraid the punks will drink it?