So I am ready to put a finish on my completed hickory self bow and after doing a lot of research I'm more confused than ever. I can't seem to find what will be the best for the use I will doing with this bow. I plan to hunt with this bow so don't want it super light in color. But I also what something that will bring the wood grain out. Don't want it shinny or to have smell to it.
Am I looking for something that doesn't exist?
Any recommendations are welcomed
Thanks !
You can stain it with whatever you want...alcohol based, oil based..doesn't matter.
Then just use polyurethane. Either spray cans of satin, or wipe on satin.
I use minwax brand wipe on...spar urethane if spraying.
Whether you used wipe on or spray can....you can do a finish coat from the can from about 1.5 foot away and get a sort of textured finish that breaks up shine even more.
You'll get a lot more replies if you post this in bower's bench.
There are lots of other ways to do it...but this way works pretty darn well and is easy.
Use Tru oil. Put several coats on letting it dry over night between.
X2 on the Tru oil. I use it for gunstocks it was originally designed for. It tends to go on thick and glossy after multiple coats so I cut it 50/50 with paint thinner for multiple thin coats that penetrate better and dry quicker. If too glossy the final coat can be hit with fine steel wool.
I've made a number of hickory bows and I find water based polyurethane to work just fine. Wipe it on with a clean cotton rag, let dry, light sanding, then wipe on another coat. Buff with steel wool to dull the sheen.
As for stain, nothing beats walnut hulls. Pick up a few walnuts when they drop and crush the hulls while they are green. I just store mine in an tin can and use them indefinitely. They will turn black as they age. If they dry just add water. Wipe in with a rag until the required darknes is aquired.
If it were me, I would use a medium brown stain from Minwax, let dry for a couple days and brush on several coats of Minwax polyurethane with a sponge brush. Better yet would be their Helmsman Spar urethane. The latter may darken just a bit but it is a far better weather proofer. Regular poly is fine with a couple coats of paste wax rubbed in with a 0000 steel wool. It gives a beautiful finish and will bead water off.
Stain it then spray or wipe on a Poly or Spar. Either of these can be easily sanded off and replaced when those bumps and scratches happen.