Hey Charles... I also am green in the aspect of cresting, but I'm a DIY type of guy and here is what I've found to work (for the girls I date)...

Fashion up a cresting jig, which it sounds like you have one. Go buy some testors model paint from a hobby lobby or the like. Get a few different types of brushes and try it. Doing will teach you more than reading what others do. You can't mess up... if you think you did, just wipe off the paint and start over.

Here are a few examples of what doing can get you... not perfect, but again - good enough for the girls I date.

 

I've never needed primer for carbons. Just make sure they are CLEAN and grease free.

Crown is the 6-12" base color layer

Cresting is the stripes.

You can dip, spray, or brush your base coat. (crown)

Crest as desired.

Clear coat over your cresting.


The biggest issue is compatibility of your paints and glue. The general rule is enamel over lacquer. Until you have played a while it is a good idea to stick with the same brand of crown/crest/clear. Duco is the most compatible glue with assorted paints. If you use Bohning you need to stick with Bohning for everything.

I generally use hardware brand enamel for my crowns (or Testors spray) Testors for my crests. Minwax water base poly for the clear and Duco glue.

I use an artists brush for all my cresting. Get a "liner" or "script" brush. They are about 1/8" diameter and about 1" long bristles.

I have a bunch of how to's on my website.

Do a search here on cresting and you should get some good info as there have been threads on this before.


I dug up some threads.


http://www.archerytalk.com/vb/showthread.php?t=2373464&highlight=cresting


http://www.archerytalk.com/vb/showthread.php?t=2323879&highlight=cresting


http://www.archerytalk.com/vb/showthread.php?t=2291181&highlight=cresting

 

My procedure has always been:

- Lightly scrub shafts with 0000 steel wool and acetone, wipe dry with paper towels.

- Mask the edge of the cap. I use blue masking tape and newspaper or printer paper. I spray my cap so you need to cover plenty of the shaft from the edge towards the point to avoid over spray.

- Spray at least two coats of your cap paint. I think the last couple of times I used Krylon enamel (white). Light coats, two or three should do it. I used primer once and think I got a little better coverage.

- Crest. I've used Testors model paints and official cresting paints, liked the Testors the best. I like to thin it a bit, it goes on smoother. I do my cresting in two or three light coats, better coverage and no bleed through from the white cap.

- Finish with two or three coats of water based poly. I use the wipe on, but have used regular water based and wiped it on even though it recommended to use a brush. Water base will not yellow like oil base, which I like on carbons. On wood arrows the yellowing of oil base kind of goes with the warmth of the wood. Both hold up well for me as far as durability.

- I fletch with Fletch-Tite, although there are other glues that work as well.

Don't skimp on coats, and especially on drying time. Several light coats are always better than one heavy one. I leave at least 24 hours between any coat, regardless of what the can says and 48 hours is even better.

If you spray your cap like I do, do it outside or cover everything in sight. Overspray is a pain in the butt, don't ask me how I know.

 

Easy, go here and take a look at my fancy spray booth. Put the arrow in backwards and copy the picture. I have a "deluxe" version now. I attach my shop vac to the far end. It works really well.

carbon arrow crest-a-long

http://outdoorcore.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=11525

 

Good idea, I like it. I have a couple dozen ratty old arrows that need to be reworked, I was going to wait until spring and do it outside but your spray booth has inspired me...:wink:

 

Here is what I did as I was trying out this process also. I practiced on some mixed arrows I had laying around. I wiped down the shaft with acetone first, spray painted a couple layers of white and then spray painted the base layer. I then crested and fletched. Have fun and work different methods on scrap arrows until you find what you like. I'm attaching a couple of photos to show the mixed set of shafts and first try at cresting.

 

I'm about to try out my hand at creating. After the crest is done do you need to put a clear top coat on? Do you use enamel or acrylic testors paint? I'm gonna be fletching my arrows with feathers so I'm going to be using fletch tape. Will that effect the paint at all

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I useTestors enamel for most of my cresting. You should clear over your crests or they can smear. A waterbase poly is the safest.