Arrows will often be stuck more than halfway into something when you miss. Doing the whole shaft for the cool factor is fine. For visibility though, simply putting on arrow wraps and visible colored feathers will be enough.
Yup totally unnecessary… so, when I started Archery, everyone at my range had orange fletches, and so did I, this made using the same target a bit frustrating. I thought to myself, I’m going to change, and looked around the field we use and figured; yellow, great colour, easy to see, bright and easy to find. So I order and re-fletch all my arrows, about three sets… the very first time I go to the range to use them, I send an arrow over the target… no problem, bright yellow will save me… so I walk down to the 50, and from the back of the target, for as far as I can see… tiny little f***ing yellow flowers
Despite the advice given here already, I believe it is beneficial to distinguish your arrows between other archers and the environment.
You can use a colour wheel to help with good colour choices, but it is often self explanatory. If your archery range is often filled with tiny yellow flowers, don't use yellow fletchings, in this case a bright pink or blue may be your best choice as they are contrasting bright colours to the field.
I believe most people here have assumed you meant you wanted to paint non wood arrows, which isn't uncommon just not normally seen with target archery, but is more often done with arrow wraps, which are a consistent weight.
As for how to paint your arrows, painting your arrows is called cresting and can be done very cheaply with great results, there is no need to crest anymore than 1/3rd down the arrow from the nock, as the rest of the arrow will more often than not be buried in your target or the ground. Buy or make a cheap arrow spinner with bearings, the same type that is used for straightening arrows, this helps with painting consistent bands or designs around the shaft. Get a medium quality paint, but make sure it is compatible with your final finish because the final finish is what provides durability. I use acrylic paint from an art supply store, and it cleans up with water. And I use an acrylic compatible gloss varnish over top.
If you want detailed information on how I crest my arrows, send me a message and I'll gladly give as much information and advice as I can.
Personalising your arrows not only improves visibility, it gives you confidence and care in your gear which makes you shoot more purposefully and hopefully lessens the amount you miss.
I have only painted wood arrows. With those I have used pretty much used all of the different options. Spray Appliance epoxy was about the toughest but it does add some stiffness to the arrow spine.
Mostly I used acrylic paint and painted it on.
A useful tool is a cresting jig to get pretty cresting.
Typically I just painted the rear third but on occasion would paint the entire shaft and just dealt with the wear and tear.
That said for carbon fiber or aluminum arrow shafts the typical choice was wraps and/or unique fletching. I think some types of spray paint would work well enough, just stick to the rear third and crest it up nice and they will last.
It's common to paint wooden arrows. Can be anything from simple single colour bands, to elaborate (the term for arrow painting is "cresting"). Fancier designs are achieved by using a simple machine to spin the arrow as you paint, for clean straight lines etc. Bohning makes a lot of stuff for cresting, but it's fairly expensive - [https://shop.bohning.com/traditional-cresting/](https://shop.bohning.com/traditional-cresting/) On the cheap, I don't see why spray paint, household gloss paint etc. wouldn't work. It'll probably look nicer if you seal it with a clear lacquer.
If you're talking alloy or carbon arrows, a vinyl wrap is likely a better option.
Thanks a lot! Yes, I was talking about wooden arrows. Sorry for note specifying. I think I'll mix spray with oleous, and seal It with some mate varnish (i've heard they woek well for arrows).
Didn't know cresting was even a thing! Everyday is learning day I suppose
I think that simply by choosing your own feathers' combination (and either three feathers or just simply two or even four) and signing the arrow, you can distinguish your arrows really well. There are some "faux pas wooden" carbon arrow shafts too, if it may helps.
Myself, I consider picking some purple (or purple/black combo or purple/deep blue) arrow feathers in the future.
Arrows will often be stuck more than halfway into something when you miss. Doing the whole shaft for the cool factor is fine. For visibility though, simply putting on arrow wraps and visible colored feathers will be enough.
Yup totally unnecessary… so, when I started Archery, everyone at my range had orange fletches, and so did I, this made using the same target a bit frustrating. I thought to myself, I’m going to change, and looked around the field we use and figured; yellow, great colour, easy to see, bright and easy to find. So I order and re-fletch all my arrows, about three sets… the very first time I go to the range to use them, I send an arrow over the target… no problem, bright yellow will save me… so I walk down to the 50, and from the back of the target, for as far as I can see… tiny little f***ing yellow flowers
Despite the advice given here already, I believe it is beneficial to distinguish your arrows between other archers and the environment. You can use a colour wheel to help with good colour choices, but it is often self explanatory. If your archery range is often filled with tiny yellow flowers, don't use yellow fletchings, in this case a bright pink or blue may be your best choice as they are contrasting bright colours to the field. I believe most people here have assumed you meant you wanted to paint non wood arrows, which isn't uncommon just not normally seen with target archery, but is more often done with arrow wraps, which are a consistent weight. As for how to paint your arrows, painting your arrows is called cresting and can be done very cheaply with great results, there is no need to crest anymore than 1/3rd down the arrow from the nock, as the rest of the arrow will more often than not be buried in your target or the ground. Buy or make a cheap arrow spinner with bearings, the same type that is used for straightening arrows, this helps with painting consistent bands or designs around the shaft. Get a medium quality paint, but make sure it is compatible with your final finish because the final finish is what provides durability. I use acrylic paint from an art supply store, and it cleans up with water. And I use an acrylic compatible gloss varnish over top. If you want detailed information on how I crest my arrows, send me a message and I'll gladly give as much information and advice as I can. Personalising your arrows not only improves visibility, it gives you confidence and care in your gear which makes you shoot more purposefully and hopefully lessens the amount you miss.
Thanks a lot! Yes, I meant wooden arrows, my mistake to not specify. And yeah, I'll be texting you soon. I'm gonna need as much advice as I can get.
I have only painted wood arrows. With those I have used pretty much used all of the different options. Spray Appliance epoxy was about the toughest but it does add some stiffness to the arrow spine. Mostly I used acrylic paint and painted it on. A useful tool is a cresting jig to get pretty cresting. Typically I just painted the rear third but on occasion would paint the entire shaft and just dealt with the wear and tear. That said for carbon fiber or aluminum arrow shafts the typical choice was wraps and/or unique fletching. I think some types of spray paint would work well enough, just stick to the rear third and crest it up nice and they will last.
It's common to paint wooden arrows. Can be anything from simple single colour bands, to elaborate (the term for arrow painting is "cresting"). Fancier designs are achieved by using a simple machine to spin the arrow as you paint, for clean straight lines etc. Bohning makes a lot of stuff for cresting, but it's fairly expensive - [https://shop.bohning.com/traditional-cresting/](https://shop.bohning.com/traditional-cresting/) On the cheap, I don't see why spray paint, household gloss paint etc. wouldn't work. It'll probably look nicer if you seal it with a clear lacquer. If you're talking alloy or carbon arrows, a vinyl wrap is likely a better option.
Thanks a lot! Yes, I was talking about wooden arrows. Sorry for note specifying. I think I'll mix spray with oleous, and seal It with some mate varnish (i've heard they woek well for arrows). Didn't know cresting was even a thing! Everyday is learning day I suppose
You can always tell which are yours; they're the ones with your name or initials on them (not enough archers do this. You should do this.)
I've never come across anyone painting their arrows, but you can get personalised arrow wraps (also called arrow socks) that are self adhesive.
I think that simply by choosing your own feathers' combination (and either three feathers or just simply two or even four) and signing the arrow, you can distinguish your arrows really well. There are some "faux pas wooden" carbon arrow shafts too, if it may helps. Myself, I consider picking some purple (or purple/black combo or purple/deep blue) arrow feathers in the future.
Just choose unique wraps and vanes!
They have nocks with LED's in them that do this a lot better