Author Topic: Applying gasket laquer finish (Read 1508 times)

Evil Dog · « **on:** April 05, 2004, 04:01:21 PM »

For the past year so I've used only gasket laquer for a finish on cedar arrows. The "Pro-Dipper" with rubber gasket works just fine just as long as I withdraw the arrow shaft at a steady rate. It is seemingly dry in less than 10 seconds. Can finish a dozen arrows in less than 15 minutes usually applying 6 coats of gasket laquer. As I do only self nocked arrows I have to clean out the nock after the final coat, but that is easily done by folding a clean cloth and dragging it through the nock.

Have been using the gasket laquer exactly as it comes from the can.... about as think as honey. Have any of you tried diluting it with Acetone? If so, how much Acetone per quart of gasket laquer and how well did it work out?

Dutch/AL · « **Reply #1 on:** April 06, 2004, 06:33:34 AM »

Evil Dog, I rarely thin my gasket lacquer with acetone, but when I do I just add about an inch to the GL in my dip tube, and then turn it upside down back and forth until it looks like it has mixed even. Then I will let it sit for a day or so to make sure any air bubbles come to the surface.

I have found that I don't need to thin mine unless it has been sitting in the tube for several months without use and has thickened up somewhat. If I am making new arrows consistently, then I have to add fresh GL to my dip tube anyhow, which keeps it the right consistency. One thing that will help keep it from evaporating in the tube when not in use, is a piece of seran wrap over the cap with a rubber band to hold it down and help keep it airtight. Also keeping it around 70 degrees helps a lot. If it gets too hot or cold it can thicken up considerably and need to be thinned.

Another trick I have found using GL is to soak my gaskets in acetone when I'm done building arrows. It will pull all the GL out of them after use, and make them seem to last forever.

Evil Dog · « **Reply #2 on:** April 06, 2004, 05:43:08 PM »

Hi Dutch...... the dip tube that I bought came with a separate solid cap to use then the gasket is not in place. I hadn't thought of soaking the gaskets in acetone though.... generally I just take it off the dip tube when I am done and set it aside until the GL has dried and is easily peeled off. I'm still on my original gasket after a year

Dutch/AL · « **Reply #3 on:** April 06, 2004, 08:09:17 PM »

Evil Dog, the reason I mentioned sealing the dip tube as best you can is because the only reason that you need to thin it is because some of it has evaporated. If you can keep it from evaporating, you don't have to add any acetone back to it. The fellow I buy mine from is Troy at Sticks and Feathers (http://home.hiwaay.net/~arrowman/) and he says if you are not going to be making arrows for awhile, to either pour it back up in the can it came in, or add acetone to thin it back out. He says it is the right consistency when it comes straight out of the can.

Also, the reason for soaking the gasket in acetone is that it will pull all the GL out of the rubber and leave it like new. Otherwise over time it will get completely stripped of the chemicals that make it pliable, and it will start coming apart in the holes where you are pulling the arrows thru.

Evil Dog · « **Reply #4 on:** April 18, 2004, 05:59:21 AM »

Hi Dutch..... Just got a couple new gaskets in from 3 Rivers. They are only about half the thickness of the ones that I have been using. My old ones are a good 1/8" thick and do a real good squeegee job. Not too sure that I even want to try these thinner ones.... will give 3 Rivers a call in the morning to see if they still have any of the thicker ones. It's getting about time to order another quart of GL anyway. Have been getting it by the quart from 3 Rivers.... have you found a less expensive source? Thanks....

Dutch/AL · « **Reply #5 on:** April 18, 2004, 06:37:49 PM »

Evil Dog, I don't think the gaskets you got are the good ones. If they are red in color they are definitely not the good ones. The ones you want that are the best are a medium to dark beige in color, and as you described about 1/8th inch thickness. They will work even better if you take a dremel tool and put a taper on the down facing side of the gasket. Basically you are just taking the sharp corner off the inside of the holes so it slides better for a good smooth finish.

As for the prices on GL, they do vary. I believe I have been paying about $17 a quart, but it can definitely be had a LOT cheaper. The reason is, is that it is nothing more than the coating they use to coat pencils with. I've heard you can buy a 5 gallon bucket of the stuff for around $70, but who needs that much at once especially since you have the evaporation issues.

A good solution would be to split a 5 gal bucket between 3 or 4 people. I don't have a contact to purchase it in quantity, but I know for certain it's out there and can be had, because it is used in other applications. They might not call it gasket lacquer, but a supplier would know what the coatings for pencils was called if it had an alternate name.

Three Rivers is OK and gives good selection on a lot of items, but they are not near as thorough on arrow shafting as Troy Breeding. He has a really big arrow building business and gives good personal attention. Give him a try, I think you will agree. He just happens to live about 30 minutes from me, and I visit every now and then.

Evil Dog · « **Reply #6 on:** April 19, 2004, 06:50:29 PM »

Hi Dutch.... the gaskets that I have are definitely not the good ones, pretty much the color terra cotta pottery. I called 3 Rivers this morn to ask about them and the guy I talked to hadn't noticed that they were all thinner than they used to be. He checked his current stock and they were all the thinner ones so I really have no choice other than to just go ahead and used them. Being a thinner material I would guess they will apply a little heavier coating than I have been used to. That might turn out to be somewhat of a plus though as I normally apply 6 coats of GL and now I might have to do only 3 to achieve the same finish. Can't say that I've ever seen the beige ones, but have only ordered from 3 Rivers.

3 Rivers is currently $21.00 a quart on clear GL and $3.95 each on the gaskets. No doubt could do a bit better on the prices but really haven't looked around all that much yet.

As to arrow shafting, the only thing I use is the 11/32" Port Orford Cedar, most of the time buying them directly from Rose City in Oregon. I do only self nocks with a contrasting hardwood insert. They sell as fast as I can make them at the local blackpowder rendezvous events... primitive archery is getting rather popular there.

I looked for "Troy Breeding" through google and didn't come up with a thing. Does he have a website?

Have a couple other questions, but would rather not put them in a public area. When you have a chance, e-mail me at "bebloomster@aol.com" so that I get in touch directly. Thanks, Bruce
Three Rivers is OK and gives good selection on a lot of items, but they are not near as thorough on arrow shafting as Troy Breeding. He has a really big arrow building business and gives good personal attention. Give him a try, I think you will agree. He just happens to live about 30 minutes from me, and I visit every now and then

Dutch/AL · « **Reply #7 on:** April 20, 2004, 06:58:37 AM »

You got mail Bruce. :grin:

Winter Hawk · « **Reply #8 on:** April 21, 2004, 12:55:11 PM »

How about tipping the rest of us off on how to find Troy Breeding...

Thanks,
-WH-

Dutch/AL · « **Reply #9 on:** April 22, 2004, 08:28:11 AM »

Here you go Winter Hawk.

http://home.hiwaay.net/~arrowman/

Evil Dog · « **Reply #10 on:** May 07, 2004, 01:09:16 PM »

Hey Dutch,

I talked to Troy a couple days back about those gaskets... he still doesn't have any in but put my name on the list for a half dozen of them when they become available again.

I did manage to find some though at Lost Nation Archery. They were like $2.90 each but exactly as you'd described. They even are already chamfered on the bottom side !!!

If you need any before Troy gets them in, that's where they can be found.

http://bowsite.com/lostnation/

Dutch/AL · « **Reply #11 on:** May 09, 2004, 05:25:41 PM »

Cool