Finishing bamboo arrows

[FAW]

Having been prompted by another topic in this forum, I need to ask about a topcoat for bamboo arrows. I have been very content to make up arrows from matched, tempered bamboo shafts but have not been adding any protective coat as one would with cedar, birch, etc. Is a topcoat necessary?

[markinengland]

I think to answer to this is yes.

Bamboo is failry hydroscopic. Like Hickory it tends to absorb water. A good waterproof finish will help reduce this - both to slow water absorbtion and also to slow it drying out.

I've found that bamboo softens a bit in spine when it gets damp but doesn't warp like some wooden or shoot shafts. It may tend to split of it dries out quickly. A bamboo backing when fully dry will go into deflex so there is some tension going on as bamboo dries.

Frequent coatings of a natural oil based finish can work, as can a water based modern exterior waterproof varnish.

[lowell]

I use Min-wax wipe-on, on my bows as well as my bamboo arrows..seems to seal them good!!

[Prarie Bowyer]

I like the concept of "feeding the wood".  I don't know if this is the best thing or not but I dip both end in Danish Oil and wipe down the shaft.  When that is dry I coat with a generous coat of Shelac (I like amber from zissner).  After its fletched I wipe the shafts with paste wax every so often.

I have heard that bear fat does an excellent job of water proofing as well.

[FAW]

Thanks for info, Markinengland and PrarieBowyer. I guess I had better start putting a coat of something on these arrows, 'cause I really like shooting them..

[bobnewboy]

Here in the UK, I use Ronseal hard glaze floor varnish.  If you boo has a good finish to begin with, one coat is usually enough to really waterproof it.  Not particularly primitive, but cheap and effective.

cheers, Bob

[Pat B]

On some of my primitive cane arrows I don't add a finish but rely on the rind to protect them. If I sand the nodes and/or the entire cane I will add a finish and it is usually a couple of coats of Tru-Oil.  I think your cane arrows will be more stable(moisture wise) if you do add a finish to slow down the hygroscopic rate.

[FAW]

Pat B
Yeah, the shafts I was making into arrows looked perfect without a coat, close to what carbon looks like, so I just went ahead and made 'em into arrows. With the advice received here, I took the points off and put a clear coat of Minwax polyurethane on them to give some protection. I will be completing another dozen soon and will take care to put coat(s) on to protect them before I turn them into arrows. I have never used Tru-Oil on my arrows -  is this a good product for topcoats? and how is it for drying?

[Boofus]

Tru oil is the best! i use about ten coats for my arrows(overachiever i know!  ) just lay the tru oil on with your fingers one coat at a time, i usually put a coat on before i go to bed and one on before i go to work in the morning, this give a decent amount of time to let the oil dry (it may be different for you depending on the humidity where you live) lightly buff with #oooo steel wool between coats and for the final finish for hunting arrows to remove any glare. fletch them up with fletch tape and let 'em rip!