Swirl Cap Dipping....Create Arrow Envy

[MAJ Dimondback]

An "Instagram" buddy of mine mentioned that he would like to see a build along of the swirl cap wraps that I have been posting lately. It is a simple process to create custom arrow caps as shown below.

You will need the following:
Arrows
Painters/masking tape
White gloss spray enamel ($4.00 rust oleum is what I use)
Testor's Model paint multiple colors of choice ($1.49 at Hobby Lobby)
Toothpicks/bamboo kabob skewers
Bottle of water tall enough to submerge your cap

[MAJ Dimondback]

First remove the nock and tape off the length of your cap on your bare shaft. After taping off your shafts, apply 2 light coats of the base enamel which will form the base of your cap. I used white here but you can experiment with other colors as well. I use small screw eyes that screw in to my insert and hang mine to dry for 24 hours on nails.

White base coat

[MAJ Dimondback]

Now prep your water bottle, tooth picks, Testor's paints,cup of coffee, dirty workbench and a rag.

Capping stuff prepped

[MAJ Dimondback]

This process works on the idea that oil (the Testor's paint) and water do not mix which creates a thin film on top of the water (an emulsion I believe) and, long story short, uses the water as a paint brush....so take whatever color will be the primary color of your cap, dip a toothpick in it and GENTLY allow 3-5 drops to fall off of the toothpick onto the surface of the water.

Primary

Do not touch the toothpick to the water or you will just cap your tooth pick. Then take separate toothpicks in the other color(s) and put 1-2 drops of each in the same manner described above. The result should look like this.

Drops

[MAJ Dimondback]

Now take a bamboo skewer or another clean toothpick and GENTLY swirl the various colors together. Do not swirl too much or too aggressively or you will just end up with a muddy grey like a kid with finger paints. Should look like below:

Swirl

[MAJ Dimondback]

Now grab one of your previously white-capped arrows that you prepped in step one and hold in your fingers above the bottle.

Before..l

At a steady, medium pace, dip the arrow into the bottle while twisting the arrow back and forth in your finger. Submerge a little past the tape and then pull out while twisting as well. Take care not to touch the edges of the bottle. Shake off the excess water onto the grass/garage floor....paint will not come off, just water but I would not do it over the living room carpet just in case.

After

[MAJ Dimondback]

After shaking off the excess water, hang to dry. I like to change the water between arrows because the dip does not use all of the paint and the remainder will create a dry film on the surface. These will become "floaters" in the water and stick to the next arrow you try to cap creating a bubble, bump or some other unfavorable addition to what should be a nice smooth swirl. Allow these to dry for 24 hrs and then crest with the same paint to whatever pattern you prefer. I hope you have a cleaner method than I do....chucked in a power drill. It is not a bad idea to experiment with something other than your final arrows as some colors turn out bolder than others. Cheap dowels, old pencils, stumping arrows all work well as test mediums...you can even cap swirly socks on Barbie legs if you have a young daughter as I do...enjoy and good luck!

Well....I hope you enjoyed this "cap-along"....please post with your results and any questions/comments/complaints/concerns that you have.

Brian aka MAJ Dimondback

[Newkirk Jerry]

I had to keep coming back because I didn't want to interrupt the build along.

Dude!! Those are awesome!!! I like that and you made a great build along that even I can follow. I will be trying this because I love the marble look I've seen here and that others have done. Very nice work!

[TradRag]

I had to keep coming back because I didn't want to interrupt the build along.

Dude!! Those are awesome!!! I like that and you made a great build along that even I can follow. I will be trying this because I love the marble look I've seen here and that others have done. Very nice work!

WOW! Me too!

[Dirtybird]

I've done this now a few dozen arrows and tte sky the limit with what you can come up with. Beautiful arrows.

[campcook]

Very good looking shafts. Alex

[Nielstewart]

Do you coat / varnish to protect the crown and cresting?

[KsBow]

Me thinks my Buddy Todd, payed attention to your tutorial. Check the caps on these beauties.

[campcook]

Ralph I saw Todd's handy work at OJAM they were way to pretty for me I would have to dig to china to retrieve one of those from a armadilla . My shooting isn't good enough for purty arras. Alex

[weedsnager]

I tried a few but my paint didn't lay smooth, it had a few clumps. My arrows were painted with white laquer, think this was the reason the paint didn't come out smooth?

[eddie c]

I want to know what is the best glue to use with the paint. I've had bad luck with glue on paint.

[Newkirk Jerry]

This was my first set I did after seeing this. Fixing to do another set for a friend of my daughter's, she want's some too.

[FullDraw]

Very nice, Jerry. Hey, are you coming to the Beast Feast this coming Tuesday?

Gary

[Greywolf]

Goooolly, I'm glad i'm doing 10-12 hours a day at work, I'd be in trouble for sure.
But, and I do mean BUT, I do have a nice little toy being shipped as I type !

Oh I forgot to mention the 10-12 hours a day ends in 3 weeks

This is my new toy...
http://www.grizzly.com/products/6-x-80- ... nder/G1531

Wish the shipping was just that much, add another $150.00 to it and your closer....

But the 10-12 hours ends in about 3 weeks...hehehehehe

[Winter Hawk]

Wish the shipping was just that much, add another $150.00 to it and your closer....

But it says that shipping is only $79!

~Kees~

[J.james]

Those look great!
I might have to try this some time...

[Greywolf]

How well do they work on wood shafts? in the first pictures looks like alums or Carbon

Anyone tried woodies?

[wvtradbow]

Thanks For doing this!! I've tried this in the past but without the pictures mine turned into a "muddy" mess..I didn't change water and I thought it had to be stirred..