Do you guys crest before or after your first coat of polyurethane? What if your staining them first then 2 coats of poly?

I have always stained my shafts first. Then crown dip or cresting, then the clear coat. Been a while since I have made up some arrows. I see some guys crest afterwards, I think because some poly will make the cresting run a bit....Scott

Stain, two coats clear, crown and crest, top coat of clear.  That's how I do it, but not necessarily how it has to be done.

That's how I do it too. Learned from the best.

Good information, good threat.

I mean thread..

Between the coats of clear coats,  light sand or fine steel wool the shafts. Wipe off with a damp rag. Let dry before the 2nd coat. Smooth as a baby's ....bottom.

Thats how i get them done ,just like highcountry.Never had a problem.

If I am wiping on the polyurethane I dye, then stain, then do the dark cresting (thick bands) and then wipe on the poly.  After the three coats have dried I do the pinstriping with no overcoat.  I found wiping removes the metallic pinstriping with the marker I use.

1st Stain, 2nd crest cap, 3rd crest,4th dip in water based poly,4th steel wool, 5th water based ploy again, 6th steel wool, 7th oil based poly. The water based poly seems to protect the spray cap from reacting to the oil based and blistering.

I stain, light sanding, one coat poly, cap and crest, three or four coats poly with light sanding after the second and third coat.  I use minwax oil stain, testors enamel(crest) and rustoleum spray(cap), water poly(dip), duco for feathers and nock, hot melt for points.