Home Forums Bows and Equipment Question: wipe on poly

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    • James Harvey
      Member
        Post count: 1130

        Hey guys, I’ve finally got a little free time so am putting together some douglas fir shafts.

        I’ve got some wipe-on poly, I remember a few guys here have been using it. What kind of cloth do you use to wipe it on?

        The only rags I’ve got are old cotton t-shirts. I was thinking I might have to go buy something a little less ragged, like a chux cloth or something?

      • Stephen Graf
        Moderator
          Post count: 2429

          Any old thing will do. I use old socks.

        • Bruce Smithhammer
            Post count: 2514

            An old clean t-shirt works just fine. Keep the coats thin, and give it plenty of time to dry. Let’s see ’em when they’re done!

          • Mark Turton
              Post count: 759

              I’ve used sponge successfully.

              Mark.

            • James Harvey
              Member
              Member
                Post count: 1130

                Follow up question for you chaps wise in the ways of wipe-on, what glue do you use for your feathers? The glue that I’ve been using for ages on my dipped shafts seems to be burning through the poly as it dries.

              • Stephen Graf
                Moderator
                  Post count: 2429

                  I’ve used:

                  super glue – Works, but eventually fails. Nock comes off after a while.

                  Fletch-tite – works ok, but weakens the nock tangs and causes them to fail when shooting.

                  Barge Cement – Doesn’t work at all.

                  Duco – seems to work the best. Butseems to react with the finish and changes its color.

                • Mark Turton
                    Post count: 759

                    Double sided tape with a dab of glue each end works well for me, only concern I might have is in very hot weather.

                    Hot melt for nocks.

                    Hows the knee holding up.

                  • Stephen Graf
                    Moderator
                      Post count: 2429

                      woops. For some reason I read nock instead of feather in the question.

                      I second the tape method. Used to use fletch tite and a jojan fletcher. Switched to tape and a bitzenburger and it works almost as well.

                      I’ve had a few feathers lift up in the middle. And my current batch of tape is hard to work with as the peel off backing breaks up more than it peels off.

                      But on the whole, its faster and easier. Easier to re-fletch an arrow too.

                    • Patrick
                      Member
                        Post count: 1148

                        I went from using tape to Duco and seem to prefer Duco, but I suppose it does depend on the stain and sealant combo used with it. Correction, my SON uses Duco, as he’s now the official family fletcher. 🙂

                      • Stephen Graf
                        Moderator
                          Post count: 2429

                          You better not get too rusty with the fletching skills there dad, just when them boys get real helpful, they tend move out.

                        • Ralph
                          Moderator
                            Post count: 2580

                            Yeah and take what they fletched with’em. 😀

                          • Patrick
                            Member
                              Post count: 1148

                              Ugh. True…they grow up fast. 😥

                            • northernarcher
                              Member
                                Post count: 5

                                My last couple dozen arrows have been sealed with wipe-on poly. Old t-shirts work great for applying the finish, and Gorilla Super Glue makes for a bomb-proof fletching glue.

                              • Patrick
                                Member
                                  Post count: 1148

                                  Steve Graf wrote: You better not get too rusty with the fletching skills there dad, just when them boys get real helpful, they tend move out.

                                  I fletched my last few. It’s like riding a bike. 😉

                                • Ralph
                                  Moderator
                                    Post count: 2580

                                    And you don’t need to wear a helmet…:roll:

                                  • Terry Lightle
                                      Post count: 24

                                      I use a heavy duty paper towel and Duco,no complaints from our customers.

                                    • Donald Hoffman
                                      Member
                                        Post count: 10

                                        I dip mine with poly.

                                      • grumpy
                                        Member
                                          Post count: 962

                                          I’m a dipper.  Use a plastic pipe with a bit of nylon panty hose over top of pipe (petite). Cut poly SPAR varnish by 25% to keep the drips and sage down.  UV rays from the sun breaks down the interior varnish.  double sided tape for fletching, that way I don’t have to worry about gluing the fletches to the table.  If you use the super glue make sure it says waterproof on the label.

                                          I’ve lost arrows in the snow, and found them in the spring in fine shape.

                                          Grumpy

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