Primitive Arrow Sealer?

[burchett.donald]

  Searching for the best PRIMITIVE or PERIOD arrow sealer. Would like to hear about everyone's favored sealer. I have used lard in the past but heard different waxes work wonderful also. Open to all opinions.
                           Don

[Pat B]

Don, on most of my primitive arrows I use pitch varnish I make. Probably not authentic but primitive enough for me.    I have also used hand rubbed bear grease.
  Rich uses a mixture of bear(or deer) fat and pine pitch for his primitive bows. That should work for arrows too.

To make pitch varnish I start with hard, brittle pitch and disolve it in alcohol. I then strain it and store in a air tight jar. Seems to stay good for a long time like this.   If you use soft, ozzy pitch your finish will remain tacky for a long time.

[JackCrafty]

This question gets asked a lot and I wish there was a simple answer.  The "short" answer is:  Use the one you can get easily.  For most people, this means animal fat.

Then there is the long answer.

My favorite sealer is pure tung oil.  Is it the best?  No.  Shellac is probably the best "natural" sealer.

How about beeswax or pine pitch, or some kind of drying nut/seed oil?  Look up the properties and compare.  You will find that the more layers you apply, the better.  You may also find that mixing these will give good results.

How about blood, tree sap, plant juice, or just plain burnishing?  Nope.  They are period but they are not very effective.

[burchett.donald]

  Pat,
           What type of pitch do you use and at what volume do you mix it with alcohol?

[burchett.donald]

    Patrick,
                  I'm going to research the shelac. Where's the best source?
                                       Thanks

[JackCrafty]

I get my shellac from the "Shellac Shack".  Google it.  They have a good variety.  I buy the buttonlac.  I suppose there are cheaper sources.  Don't buy it pre-mixed.  Buy the flakes and mix your own.

[crooketarrow]

  I used bee's wax a good bit. Alhough not very  primitive I use a hair dryer the wax melts right into the pours really well. I use to use a camp fire the dryers just a more controled heat scorce.

[Bryce H]

If y'all don't mind, I'll add an additional question: I figured when I clicked on the topic that bear grease and animal fats would come up as a sealer, and that was my initial reaction when I read the topic. So, would that expand to include the likes of lard and things like bacon grease?

[burchett.donald]

   Yes Bryce, definitely animal fat. Do you have a favored primitive sealer?

[agd68]

Yep, I use bacon grease,free,primitive,works well and smells real good too.