I've used spray urethane, shellac, paste wax, laquer, all kinds of stuff.They all work. Nowadays I usually use either Tru-oil or bear grease, depending on how primitive I'm feeling at the moment. The Tru-oil is quick, easy, cheap, and effective. I use it on cane arrows too, because I grind my nodes down even with the rest of the shaft. I've been meaning to try the Massey finish-two-ton epoxy thinned with acteone or denatured alchohol. Chris Cade (Mechslasher) says it works great, and I tend to listen to most things he has to say about making arrows.