Painting Arrows

[cnelk]

To help see my arrow flight in low light conditions or in the grass/leaves, I paint the shafts
I made a small paint box and use small cans of craft paint
Cost $5



First I tape off each end of the section I want to paint with 2" wide tape




Then slide into box... and paint with gloss white



Once white is dry, I crest the white with fluorescent orange



I can do 6 arrows in about 20 min and have lots of paint left over for many more arrows

[Swede]

The arrows look great, but does the painting help you see the arrows in flight better, or do you just see the fletch?

[cnelk]

Swede
Occasionally I try to shoot in low light conditions to simulate actual hunting scenarios.
Yes. I can see the arrows better after I paint them.
That, along with 3 white vanes/fletching I can track the arrow path quite well

Also, when you hit an animal, you can see the blood on the shaft to determine if bright or dark

[Freebird134]

How much does this affect an arrow's spine? Do you worry about inconsistencies between arrows? Seems like a little extra paint here or there could really affect an arrow's flight.....or could it?

[WapitiTalk1]

Great tip and graphic demonstration on the "how to do it". Thanks.

[cnelk]

How much does this affect an arrow's spine? Do you worry about inconsistencies between arrows? Seems like a little extra paint here or there could really affect an arrow's flight.....or could it?

I do not see any difference in the small amount of added paint.
Plus, I first wipe of the factory paint on the shaft so it's prob a wash.

[buglmin]

Nice...I continue to dip my shafts, have a set up that I've been using for the past 20 plus years...I dip a white base coat, then chartrues on top of the white, then crest and seal...I use chartrues feathers, to create a bright chartreues blob heading towards the target. But with lighted nocks, its easier to see your arrow in flight...I dunno why Coorado makes lited nocks illegal.
I've been making custom arrows since the 80's, used to make arrows for Judd Cooney and Jim Dougherty a lot. My fav combo used to be Flo pink with flo pink vanes...I dont make a lot of white colored arrows, very easily seen by animals in a bow quiver...