wood arrow help

3Feathers · February 09, 2011, 07:30:00 PM

I'm new to making woodies. I'm staining the shafts, then giving them 3 separate coats of danish oil, rubbed on. Is that enought to seal them? Also putting on 3 coats of water-based poly. Will the danish oil seal them enough without the poly? The shafts are ash.

michaelschwister · February 09, 2011, 08:06:00 PM

have tried about everything, but have settled on 3 coats of helmsman spar urathane gloss wiped on with a rag. The danish oil should work fine, as long as you don't expose them to significant rain.

Orion · February 09, 2011, 10:17:00 PM

You don't need the danish oil and the poly. I've messed with danish oil a lot. Usually, though, I soak the shafts for days at a time and use a particular color of danish to get the shaft color I want. Oil does not penetrate as well when it is rubbed over a previously applied stain, which tends to clog the wood pours. Three coats of Danish oil over a stain may be ok for damp conditions, but I don't think it will hold out rain. Three coats of poly, on the other hand, because it is a surface coating rather than a penetrating coating, will hold out rain, water, etc, unless the finish is somehow compromised--split, chipped, etc.

doctari · February 10, 2011, 06:42:00 AM

You want to make sure you have all your shafts straighten before sealing them. I use polyurethane on mine, after staining and cresting them. IMO Ash makes an awesome hunting arrow. Warning making your own arrows can become addictive and not cheap.

Rob DiStefano · February 10, 2011, 06:45:00 AM

danish oil, tung oil, linspeed oil - all these kinda clear coat finishes take time, and some will take *forever* to dry/cure. save time and money, use a quick/easy/durable clear coat like min-wax gloss wipe-on, or birchwood-casey tru-oil.

mississippidave · February 10, 2011, 09:00:00 AM

+1 on helmsman spar urathane

wolfhunter4life · April 13, 2012, 06:23:00 PM

Anyone here used the 3 Rivers Greybark one step seal and stain? I'm a novice at building arrows and want to start. Nothing fancy, just a good straight hunting arrow. thanks

lpcjon2 · April 13, 2012, 06:27:00 PM

Wolfhunter4life,

A small can of stain will last you a while, and as Rob said Minwax wipe on poly is an easy way to get a great protective finish. At least three coats of poly.

Basil_K · April 13, 2012, 06:31:00 PM

i have never tried this before on an arrow but what about a CA glue finish? has anyone tried this?

ron w · April 13, 2012, 07:53:00 PM

I use spray can lacquer from the hardware store. 3 coats and your good to go. Lightly steel wool after the first and second coat. Dries really quick!!

wolfhunter4life · April 14, 2012, 06:06:00 PM

Thanks for the info fellas! Will be going to menards for the next batch of arrows. No more 3 rivers pre finished shafting. It doesn't come very straight and giving me fits with my Ace Roller. It's cracking the lacquer. Can I just wipe on some Minwax poly over the cracked and exposed parts of the shaft after I get them straight?

wolfhunter4life · April 14, 2012, 06:12:00 PM

How long should I wait between coats?