I am going to start buying materials and tools for wood arrow building and was wondering- are dip tubes worth it? or can I just rub some sealer on. If so can anybody tell me a good product for sealing.

thanks
alex

I use two coats of teak oil for moisture and then tru-oil to finish.  Both are wipe on type of products.  I've never liked the dip tubes.

I always thought that the dip tubes were kind of pricey, so we always just made ours.

Dipping is faster once set up. Min wax stains wiped on and fast dry poly dipped works very well and easy to get.

Keeping the Faith!
Magnus

Minwax stains and Wipe On poly work very well. Get a couple packs of steel wool to use between coats. Rite Dye mixed with Denatured Alcohol works easy and makes some nice stain. I've never used tubes but I've made many dozen arrows using Minwax and Dye.

Alex , I have had great success with rub on polyurethane . I think its easier and gives a tougher finish.
Pm me  with any queries .

Cheers

Ben

I made my tubes out of golf club holders. a neat trick is to take a rubber glove and punch a hole in it to insert and pull your arrow through. I just wrap a large rubber band around it and leave just a little slack in the diaphram it makes. You insert the arrow into your laquer and then pull it up and hang the arrow. The rubber glove squeeges is perfectly. no mess and super nice finish. four or five dips and its done. I have used the water based poly with pretty good results. Steve

I'm all thumbs with practical matters, so for me the dip tubes have definitely proved worthwhile.

I think a dip tub is worth it Alex.  For a great waterPROOF  arrow i use Minwax Helmsman Spar Urethane.  I use full strength with a gasket and arrows down this way will withstand any weather you can thrrow at them.  Fletch with Duco and wipe shellac over Testors model paints if you choose to crest.

Wiping on a good sealer is fine! You can use a good poly! Alot of folks have used Tru-oil. I have even used Formby tung oil.

Great way to start out, just make sure the finish will be compatible with the fletching adhesive you will use.

Great question.I too am experimenting,so learned some things on this thread.They also have more good stuff on the how to forum here at tradgang.

Spent some time w/my dip tube getting it just right. Then proceeded to have a diptube wreck. My driveway had paint skid marks for months. I gave up.

I love my dip tubes; used to be a wiper-dipping is so much easier once you get the hang of it. But do it any way you want.

I like the dip tubes.  Way quicker for the same end result

If you want to use lacquer - dip tubes.  If you would like to wipe on a urethane or polyurethane finish they are unnecessary.

Dip tubes are great, and you can make a whole set from pvc for around $25 if you already have the glue. Whiping on a finish works but it will not be completly even and it is way messier. If you want to build really fine finished arrows dipping is essential.

min-wax wipe-on polyu for both sealing and finishing.  3 wipes is more than enuf.  prestain the shaft with any flavor of stain - you can separate the cap area with 3m blue masking tape, stain the foreshaft and either leave the cap area natural or stain that as well.  the blue masking tape removed for cresting with a variable speed electric drill or screwdriver and marking pens.  easy to do and the results will be quite nice ...

 

 

 

Rob, Those are nice.

Nice looking arrows Rob!

Those are very nice arrows!

well I went out today and bought Minwax stain and Minwax wipe on poly. already applied the stain. will wait a few hours and do the rest. I will let you know how it turns out.

thanks for the help!
alex