I am looking at dipping/cresting my carbons to add some character, but have never done this before. I am curious as to the options regarding paints which can be used as the cost of the cresting/dipping paint I have been able to find on-line is tremendous! I have read to do a white base dip, then dip the color I want, and based on that I would need 2 pints of paint at almost $20/pint. Then you add 2-3 cresting colors at $5-7/oz., and you have the cost of a new dozen arrows!!!

I am wondering if anyone has tried more commonly available paints such as water based acrylics, or enamels, and if there was any problems with fletching adhesion.

I thought about wraps but am really looking to creat my own look and like the hobby aspect of it - not trying to debate the pros and cons of traditional dipping vs. wraps here, just looking to see if there are more economical ways of dipping/cresting arrows.

I use Krylon and Rustoleum for the cap and Testor's enamel model paint for the cresting.I seal that with a polycrylic sealer then fletch.

Nice arrows Jim, what type of jig are you using on those white fletches in the bottom picture?

Thanks Bob--I've been using a JoJan multi w/left wing clamps for the past 10yrs.

JoJan. Looks like you can get a very good helical twist on it. It looks better then what I can get on my Bitz.

Bob, the JoJan does put a nice helical on.I still have a bit of room to adjust more but then I wouldn't get full contact on those skinny carbons.

Those are some very nice looking arrows! When you mentioned you use Krylon and Rustoleum does that mean you sprayed them? I have heard of using testors for the cresting, but wasn't sure which one cause they make like 5 different types.

Do you use the polycrylic to provide a good base for adhesion of your fletching? I have heard there can be problems with certain glues holding on some paints.

The Krylon & Rustoleum are in qt. cans.I pour into a small dipping tube.The only reason I use a sealer is so the paint won't chip off as fast.I use Paltinum fletch-tite and it adheres to the sealer just as good as on non-sealed paint.The Testor's is a small model paint kit I get a Wal-mart.It has about 8 differant colors & thinner(about $7)

You can spray them if you want to.
For large areas of solid color I spray instead of dip. I feel that I get a finer coat of paint spraying. (I am also very used to spraying paint anyway so it's a natural habit) Although sometimes I just use one of my airbrushes and use canned paint that I've cut down with solvent.

I made a jig out of wood and felt "tape" to hold the arrows while I spray them. Just mask off the arrow for overspary and rotate while spraying. Any spay lacquer will work. Dupli-Color and Plasti-coat automotive sprays are all laquers and you can get some nice colors and effects colors that aren't available in standard cresting paint. The only downside for them is that most colors can only be found in automotive stores and a small 4oz can cost as much as a full sized 10oz can of standard colors.

JimPic - Good to know, I thought you might be spraying them on. I'll have to see what colors they have in cans. My problem is I am trying to do a flo-green dip (bohning Signal Green) and it's tough to find cans of this color. Question? Do you seal after you crest with the Testors?

I may try wayomic's way with spray lacquer, as I have seen a wide variety of colors in lacquer, but only in spray cans. I have a cresting lathe so that may resolve my concern about uneven coverage when spraying. wayomic - do you use a sealer, and do you crest the arrows - if so what works best on the sprayed paint?