spray painting arrows

[sendero25]

This post may be moved but I did a search and couldn't find what I was looking for so here goes:
I just bought a dozen Easton xx75 gamegetters for $41.00 at the local Gander Mountain (couldn't pass on the price}. They are solid black and I want to "personalize" them beyond just adding my color of feather.
My question is: Can I mask off the rear area of the shaft and spray paint it before cresting? I don't have any dipping tubes, but I do have access to a cresting machine.
If so, what spray paint, Krylon, etc... should I use before cresting?
If spray painting is possible, should it be prepped before cresting?                     Thanks in advance! Now I have to go strip those ugly orange and green "rubber" feathers!
John

[jojotater]

I've done it several times. After I get the color finished, I coat the arrow with lacquer. It holds up well.

[jojotater]

I forgot to add: I just clean the arrow, then spray. Krylon does well.

[Recurve50 LBS]

Exactly what Jojo said.

[bucksakemmer]

I shot a three d match with two guys who painted theirs white, no problems for them, they kicked my butt, and they say it lasts

[sendero25]

jojo, recurve50, and buck,
Thanks a lot for the fast answers,
I'll have to try it!
John

[Littlejake]

I do it all the time I use rustolem paint,and
fletching tape. Works good.

[portugeejn]

I've used Rustoleum on wood arrows with good results.

RonP

[shoot4fun]

Be sure and paint the first coat in white. After it dries, then paint to the color of your choice.

Another small trick, instead of using tape to mask off the shaft, I found a thin piece of cardboard and cut a hole in it slightly smaller than the shaft diameter. Just push the shaft through the cardboard to your desired length and then paint. Allot faster than tape and does just as good of a job.

Be sure and spray a clear coat over your finished job.

Hope this helps.      

[Dave Huff]

Been doing it as well on my carbons.  Mask down about 9 or 10 inches.  Spray a base of white, makes the colors stand out better. I use valspar but any will do.  Once it get it crested I top coat with urethane and fletch with fletch tape.

[jack benson]

I have an old wooden lazy susan that I drilled holes in. Load with shafts and give it a spin...can do a bunch of masked off shafts with krylon, rustoleum, or whatever...at one time. Same with clear coating after all decorating done.

[adeeden]

Yep like the others metioned use white under your color, I actualy even use a grey primer before the white. That really makes the final color pop!

[Bob G]

I give mine a quick shot with oooo steel wool dipped in acetone. Mask off with 1" tape where you want to stop painting. Jam the shaft through a paper plate, keeps paint off your hands and saves a lot of masking.

[pjsnell]

I paint mine with Rustoleum, and don't bother to laquer them.  I've shot the current set for about two years, and they still have 90% of the cresting on them.

[sendero25]

Thank you all for the advice!
I never would have thought of some of these ideas.
If these arrows come out as I hope, I have the tradgang to thank! (If they are ugly, I'll blame myself)
John

[Dave Worden]

Someone said the they top coat with lacquer.  Be careful here.  Be sure your base coat is compatible with the clear coat you finish with.  Generally, lacquer will eat up any base coat but lacquer.

[cajun_avalanche]

I use the wal mart brand of spray paint, and have just tried paint remover to correct mistakes, and recycle arrows.  Seems to work well.

[jojotater]

I use Rust-oleum lacquer--no problem with spray paint or fletch tape.

[Wednesday Caste]

I noticed a lot of you use fletch tape.  Will the glues not work?
Quinn

[Dave Huff]

glues work fine, such as Duco, tape is faster.  I'm all about shootin, not fletchin.