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Natural arrow finishes?
WhistlingBadger:
Hi, all. What do you all use to seal/waterproof your arrows? I need something natural and not too noxious smelling, since I have two asthmatic girls in the house, and it's just too stinkin' cold to open a window. Plus I try to avoid arrow ingredients that might give me cancer.
It also needs to be something readily available--I like using the tallow/pine pitch/beeswax compound, but two of those ingredients are a bit hard to find this time of year.
I am asking because I just finished a brand new set of arrows, bare-shaft tuned to my bow, lovingly stained and fletched with wild turkey feathers a friend gave me. I finished them with linseed oil, only to find that linseed oil dissolves fletching tape. >:(
jeffp51:
beeswax and olive oil 3:1 mixture
WhistlingBadger:
--- Quote from: jeffp51 on December 27, 2019, 03:33:21 pm ---beeswax and olive oil 3:1 mixture
--- End quote ---
Do you rub that one warm? Does that dry hard? I tried some beeswax-based boot wax, but it made my arrows all gummy. I guess a 3:1 mix would be fairly hard.
jeffp51:
It will have a pasty consistency. i rub it on with my hand, and body heat and friction will melt the wax. I rub until it feels well rubbed in (like a lotion) and then wipe of the excess. You might have to do repeated coats or renew periodically. Sometimes it works well, and with some woods it doesn't seem to be as great. But it is very natural and won't give you cancer.
Pat B:
I use pine pitch varnish for primitive arrows and for sinew wraps on bows and arrows. Dissolve hard, brittle pine pitch is alcohol, strain it and seal it in an air tight container. It will last a year or more. When used, once the alcohol has evaporated it leaves a clear(amber), smooth, hard finish. I've never noticed a smell from the cured pitch varnish but I don't know how it will affect sensitive folks.
Use only hard, brittle pitch. If you use softer, sticky pitch you'll get a soft, sticky finish.
You could also add oil or grease to make a true varnish. It would make it more flexible but I've never needed to do it.
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