How To build some pretty cool looking arrows. Motor City Machete style

[DWT]

Mike, have you done any testing in a slighltly more northern climate to see how the dip holds up? If not I will (volunteer) to see how a dozen might perform through a whole season for ya all in the name of science ofcourse!    

[Mike Vines]

You going to be at the Kzoo Expo Don?

[DWT]

Planning on it Mike unless some unforeseen disaster.

[Mike Vines]

Swing by our booth, I'll have something for you.    

That's what friends are for.

[paoliguy]

Thank you so much! I feel a Thanksgiving weekend project coming on.

[Mike Vines]

I can't seem to stop having fun.

The 6 on the right have a date with a Manitoba bear next spring (at least that's if the bear reads the same script).  The set on the left has a home, they just don't know it yet.  The left set is a 3 color marble dip (black, olive drab and cream dipped over a Khaki base coat).

[CoachBGriff]

Mike,

Don't mean to hijack your thread (which I'm enjoying btw), but I just wanted to say I also enjoyed your DIY Mule Deer article as well.  Nice work.

[Shakes.602]

       

[rluttrell]

I am getting ready to try my 1st set of arrows. this looks great. also by posting I can find it quicker.
Thanks for sharing

[Benjy]

Mike, is there a trick to get the drop to float? When I put the first drop of testors paint on the water it almost spreads across the complete surface of the water, the second drop looks just like yours.

[BAPilot2]

I've tried the marbling effect on some carbon shafts and they turned out real nice however the paint does not lay flat and smooth on the shaft.  It is definitely raised and textured feeling to the touch.

Any ideas on how to get a smooth finish???

[Sawpilot 75]

Very unique looking pattern.  That looks like it takes some time to master.

[Mike Vines]

No trick to get it to float.  I have noticed that the thinner the paint is, that it tends to spread out.  No biggie, you can still get the same effect.  

When the paint is dry, there is no noticeable texture to the marble dip.  That being said, if you have any "Globs" of paint on the shaft, it will not dry smooth and flat with the shaft.  I had that problem happen at first, so I practiced a couple more times and no texture now.  You just need to make sure you don't have any large one spot concentration of paint floating on top.  Make sure you have it all swirled together really good.  If you continue to have that texrure problem, your using to much paint, or not swirling it on top of the water enough.  

I have learned the darker the color, I use only 1 drop.  The ligher the color, I use 2 drops.

Take for instance the picture at the top of this page.  The pink set was done with 1 drop of black paint.  The multi colored set was done with 1 drop of black, 2 drops of olive drab and 2 drops of cream.  Make sure they are swirled together nicely and you will be extreamly pleased with the results.  

End result...they are smooth enough that you cannot feel a thing when you close your eyes and run your fingers over them.  I learned that trick from a Master Carpenter I worked alongside for 13 years (I was extreamly fortunate that he liked me and took me under his wing).  He used to ALWAYS come and run his hands over my finished product and tell me it's not sanded enough, you will see the joint.  He finally taught me, after having to correct me to many times, "If you close your eyes and run your hand over it, you will feel your flaws".  From that day forward he never had to correct me again.  No amount of paint or clear coat can cure imperfect work.

[Benjy]

You were right! It still worked fine. These are the first shafts that I have ever done like this, I will do more!

[koops4]

Thanks for this how-to Mike. Your arrows look amazing. I always enjoy seeing the arrows you create.

[Benjy]

Works great on carbon's also!

Thanks for the thread! I am having fun now!

[Bill Sant]

I've been doing marble dips for years and have a few things that made a difference for me in the quality of the dipping.
1.  if you can, draw the water into whatever container you are using a couple of hours before starting.  This lets any air bubbles in the water go away and keeps them from attaching to your arrows and causing blank spots or water spots/voids.  Room temp water seems to work best.
2. I use a five gallon bucket filled to the level I want to dip, then I put 6 or 8 lengths of pvc pipe, cut an inch or two longer than the depth of the water into the bucket.  This makes 6 or 8 different dipping pools in the same bucket.  Use one pool for a couple of dips and then move to the next pool, add paint and dip again without having to clean out the old paint.  I usually get 2 quality dips before I move on to the next pool.
3.  I use rustoleum spray paint for the main crown and testors model paint for the dip.  On occasion if the main crown has dried for a while,  week or more,  the marbling will not take to the shiny finish as well as you might want.  It will look fine, but when you fletch with duco it will only penetrate the swirl paint and not the main crown paint enough to really hold fast,,,,so scuff the crown lightly with some 0000 steel wool  before swirling.
It really is fun to have unique arrows so get creative and have a blast.

[Bill Sant]

Forgot to say that the pvc pipe I use is 3  to 4 inch diameter

[Mike Vines]

And now the pink ones are complete.  Bring on the Manitoba bears for these...

[steadman]

Nice Mike!!    I'm jealous your headed north this spring