yup, I seal the shaft after staining before capping. then cap and crest, seal with water based, then gasket lacquer over the top of everything for my finished arras. Just what works best for me anyways. I found it does this also (build up at the nocks if I am not careful thinning it, hence a couple test arras. I havent played much with the dipping with it unthinned and what wiping on I did I didnt like. Used both rags and sponge brushes like Di instructed me on and got 'streaks' instead of a smooth finish. I dont want to see the grain on my wood, if I did I would use Rit Dye's thinned with Denatured Alcohol, which btw seems to work well. I do however want to get my hands on some analine dyes, that will probably be next winters project though...to many things going on right now to do more playin!

How much denatured alcohol do you thin the rit dye with? Do you use the powder or liquid. I bought some dark brown and some red (powder version) that I want to try to stain my new fiberglass arrows with. I have had them mistaken for wood enough in the couple days I have had them, that I might as well make em prettier <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>. Gotta wait for my feathers to come in. Anybody want a 2dozen Trueflight right wing 5&quot; shield cuts (1 doz. white, one red. I bought them on accident from the Kazoo expo from 3 rivers and I have no use for them that I can think of. My fletcher only does LW. E-mail me and I will sell em fer a dollar a set or something, or maybe a trade for something you guys don't need. Sorry I'm selling stuff....<img src=icon_smile_evil.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_sad.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_dead.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_dissapprove.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_question.gif border=0 align=middle>

Tox, for Rit powder dye I use about 6oz of alcohol to a package of dye. On the liquid stuff I use about the same 6oz of alcohol bt I mix in the dye until I get the color I want. Remember to shake the liquid dye before mixing it into the alcohol.

Watch out for the colors on the powdered dye. I think some of the dye pigment does not dissolve in alcohol. Rit powdered black give me a beautiful plum color. It looks really good but it's disappointing if you're looking for true black.

I have done both the liquid and the powdered also. I mix it in a wine bottle, seems to work well depending on the color as Grey pointed too. Some need to be diluted less, some more to get the color. You can also mix up some funky stains with the stuff. For black try the analine dyes...then again I havent had my hands on any but have been told its great stuff! The rit dyes are cheap and easy though so its hard to pass it up. Greyghost archery (if I remember right) has the analines in some wild colors. If you cant find him try the leather catalogs.

Dan, when you get streaks you need to steel wool the first coat and do a second..that should take away any streaks and leave a smooth finish...Took me several tries but I got it mastered now!

hmm..ya dont get any problems using the steel wool? I would get something from the SW rubbing off onto the caps so I started using green scrubbies to nock down any nasty bubbles inbetween dips. I will have to give that one a whirl though..more like log it for now as I have hardly shot my bow other then in the house a few arras a nite. Been trying to get some time to start this stinking canoe. Got the wood for the strong back and forms outside and the plans finally cut out. Screwed up the last set and keep forgetting the dang drill at work LOL! This weekend I will be making dust, if not tomorrow nite. Missed another meeting tonite with fish and game, instructor garb, so I could come home and spend a few waking moements with Dawn and finish those plans. Got 2 new bows back to back and hardly have flung anything from either other then at my bale in the hunting room. Just itchn to get to the range or take my old standby out and do some preditor calling, espically with these warmer temps and the hare populations crashing....ok rambling lol.....later

I use white gasket lacquer on wood but I'm now using white appliance epoxy enamel on aluminum. I tape the shaft where I want the cap to end and put it in my cresting jig. Light coats of the spray can while the shaft is turning works great. It did take a couple shafts to figure out how much paint so I didn't get runs. I then take the shaft out and hang like normal. This stuff is extremely tough! Cresting can be done with ANY paint. I have not tried to dip over the finish crest but I don't seem to need to. Very tough stuff. Dick

Gee Dan...Thats a rough life you got!! lol