Does anyone still use Watco Danish oil on their wood shafts? I remember several years ago it was not only used to seal but as a soak to increase weight. Just wondering if anyone just uses it as a stain and seal. Thank you.

Yes, Danish oil and also Odies Oil and Odies wax

I use it nearly exclusively on arrows.

Do you soak the shafts or just wipe it on? If you soak them, how long? Thanks again.

I just wipe it on

The whole soaking thing I believe was made popular bt Dennis Kamstra. He wrote about soak in his arrow shafts to increase weight. I've never tried it.

I did some soaking years ago. Did it to increase the weight of the shafts. And it worked quite well. If I pressurized the soaking container (for a few days), I could increase shaft weight by 100 grains, but about half of that bled out as the shafts dried. Did leave a very nice water resistant finish regardless.

Have also just rubbed it on. Usually took about five coats to get the finish i wanted. This isn't enough to affect the physical weight by more than a few grains. It works fine. But, I've since gone to increasing my wood arrow weight with increased point weight rather than increased shaft weigh so I no longer use it.

There are better sealers. Bohning products work quite well, but the fumes are bad. I quit using it for that reason. Now I just rub on several coats of Birchwood Casey gun stock finish. Yields a very nice durable, waterproof finish. Outwardly, it looks very similar to the Danish oil finish, just a little glossier, which can be toned down with steel wool for the same look.

Tung oils dry out and loose the ability to be water proof its a poor finish for arrows or bows .

The issue with soaking is that wood is of course porous, but....it will take on the oil at varying rates and the weight can vary alot because of that. Never saw a need for that action but Dennis hunts Africa...and guides there so is more knowledgeable about use over there.

I use pure Tung oil same stuff the Chinese used to seal their boats with back when. I like it because it doesn’t get “target burn” or accumulate stuff on the shafts. It’s easy to touch up when it wears. BUT it’s not fast drying so not for the “hurry up” arrow maker. Another finish I like is Waterbased polycrillic or polyethylene. Some target burn but agian I can wipe on a fresh coat where it wears. Yes, it’s waterproof. No smell and water cleanup, available at almost any homestore. Even Bohning has a line of waterbased arrow finishing products on their website.

Watco Danish Oil is all I use as well. I do not soak them but apply a couple coats with a rag.

Thanks y'all for all the replies. I thought that the Watco (or others) that actually penetrates INTO the wood would be better (more durable and waterproof) than sealers that stay on the surface of the wood. Very interesting in the different results reported.

SuperK I've used it for nearly 30 years with no issues in all kinds of weather.

Jay Massey used homemade French Polish half Boiled Linseed Oil and half shellac on his arrows. He knew about as much about keeping moisture out as anybody.

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