Just thought I would post some pics of the simple cresting set up I use. Made from a few scraps . Dollar store Acrylic paints,foam brushes ,1 good liner brush and not much more . 1 end is fixed while the other end swivels (1 screw from bottom ) .The one that swivels has a hole right through, the fixed has a hole about 1/2 way, slightly smaller in dia. and countersunk. Shaft is spun with the left hand and painted with the right. I use the foam brushes for a smooth finish and because they come in different sizes which makes it easy to repeat patterns on subsequent arrows. The paint and shelac dry so quick that I can move on to my next colour by the time I finish the first on 6 arrows. If I stain ,I let it dry overnight before a few coats of shelac. The shelac dries quick , so 3-4 coats can be applied with just a few minutes in between as long as you don't overwork it.Do your thin accent lines with the liner brush first then work the field (wider bands ) up to them slowly with the foam brush to give a nice fine line. By starting away from the line, it will even out the flow from the brush and give a nice crisp edge with greater control. If you load the liner brush and the make a few strokes with one side only on some scrap paper,you will have a brush that is loaded on one side only. This technique allows you to make a finer line with one crisp edge (the other edge is cleaned up later by covering with another colour) Just the way I do it. As always , I'm open to any suggestions or insights , and willing to answer any questions. I like my arrows to be distinct but don't want to be worried about losing them, so quick and cheap, without compromising aesthetics was my ultimate goal.
