what to use to dye/stain gt traditionsl shafts

[fountain]

i have seen a few of the gt trad shafts dyed /stained and it gives them a great, darker more natural look.
i am building some turkey arrows and want to dye/stain my shafts.  what works the best.  i have heard that a particular leather dye works wel---cant remember the name-- and minwax stain gums up.  
rit dye?

[reddogge]

Fiebings leather dye has a wide variety of colors and is available at Tandy.  Behlens Solarlux is a great dye for wood tones and is available in woodcrafting stores or online.

[KSdan]

fountain- I have also been interested in this- especially after seeing reddogge's red arrows on the red cresting post.

I am wondering about "ink."  I know you can use black India ink on bow limbs etc.  They can then be covered with a finish.

I will be watching this. . .

Dan in KS

[fountain]

reckon the rit dye will work?

[Teacher_of_the_Arcane]

Hi All,

I've been told that the Rit dye works, but not the nuts and bolts of how to do it!!  Some one will come along....I've got six dozen shafts in the shop for later this spring!!! :-}  I'm thinking purple for mine.

[Benoli]

If I remember correctly I used 8 oz. of denatured alcohol per package of powdered RIT dye. It won't disolve completey so you'll have to mix a few times during the dying process. Also test the color on a piece of scrap before you dye. The colors vary due to the type of wood and the dye itself. At one time someone had published a chart for mixing colors. Simply brush on or apply with a clean cloth, then rub off. Repeat for darker color. They dry real quick because the alcohol evaporates. Some finishes will cause the dye to bleed a little so I put the finish in a small container so as not to taint the can.

[Benoli]

These were dyed with black and red dye. Was going for a footed shaft look. Water based poly for semi gloss finish.

[Grey Taylor]

Color me ignorant, but isn't a GT trad shaft made of carbon?
If that is the case, how do you get dye to work on a non-porous surface?

Guy

[fountain]

i have liqwuid rit and never used it before.  just soak a rag and wipe on?

[frankwright]

Originally posted by Grey Taylor:
Color me ignorant, but isn't a GT trad shaft made of carbon?
If that is the case, how do you get dye to work on a non-porous surface?

Guy

I have dyed lots of wood shafts with RIT dye and denatured alcohol but I can't believe it would work on a carbon GT shaft either.

[LBR]

Grey Ghost Traditional Archery in MO sells some excellent dyes for wood shafts.  

Chad

[Grey Taylor]

Fountain, the title of your thread is,

"what to use to dye/stain gt traditional shafts"

Are you trying to stain carbon shafts or are you looking for stain for wood shafts? It's going to make a big difference.

Guy

[Shakes.602]

Minwax Walnut is what I use. Coat with a rag, let sit 15 Minutes, Fine Steel Wool, Coat it again.....and Repeat until they are the Color You are Looking For. Just make sure they are dry before attacking with the Steel Wool.