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Main Boards => Trad History/Collecting => Topic started by: JimB on February 11, 2010, 11:40:00 AM

Title: The "A" Mag Refinish
Post by: JimB on February 11, 2010, 11:40:00 AM
I refinished my old Magnesium handle TD that I bought in 1972.A long time ago,I had to sandblast all the old flocking off and camo painted it.I have redone the camo 2 more times since then.I had used regular primer before and it held well but sometimes the paint wore through a tiny bit on the corners.

I decided I was tired of the camo and would give it another face lift.

I researched prepping magnesium for painting,till my head hurt.A common primer seems to be zinc chromate but it is seriously hazardous.Other regimens were way too complicated for me.Zinc phosphate was recommended as an alternative that is less hazardous so I tried it.

The paint I chose was a Multi Textured paint by Rustoleum,formulated for outdoor,metal patio furniture.

I can't make any claims how this stuff will hold up as it is fairly new to me.Only time will tell.I had painted a Windwalker treestand with the Multi Textured paint and the stuff seems pretty tough.If anything,I think a brief spritz on any dings at the end of the season would do it.

Here is the paint.
(http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a140/jbrandenburg/MagnesiumTD015.jpg)
Title: Re: The "A" Mag Refinish
Post by: JimB on February 11, 2010, 11:51:00 AM
I cleaned the riser down to the bare metal,first with a stripper,flushed and used Scotch Brite and I mean got into every crease and crevice and primed it immediately-2 coats.

The primer comes in green or yellow.I chose green.The cap shows the color.The Multi Textured paint I chose was tan.They also make white,2 shades of brown,black,dark green and a couple others.

This Multi Textured paint lets some color through from underneath so I tested it over the primer first and liked the color.

I waited at least 24 hours after priming to paint and did 2 coats of the Multi Texture.

I had also refinished the #1 white tip limbs prior.After getting the old camo off them,the old finish was funky but the glass was in excellent shape with no stress cracks.One slikscreen was worn so I got a set from Al H and replaced both.
(http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a140/jbrandenburg/MagnesiumTD011.jpg)
Title: Re: The "A" Mag Refinish
Post by: JimB on February 11, 2010, 11:56:00 AM
I forgot to mention that some years ago I had filled in the sight and side plate channel and could have restored that but had given the plate to a friend and decided to leave it at is.

I don't know what to call this color but you can see,it isn't tan.Maybe Tundra Gray?
(http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a140/jbrandenburg/MagnesiumTD009.jpg)
Title: Re: The "A" Mag Refinish
Post by: JimB on February 11, 2010, 12:14:00 PM
I really liked the way the bow turned out except it was naked.

I wanted a 5 arrow bow quiver that would match.A while back I made a form for a compact quiver hood.I wanted the shape to look like the Bear quiver hoods but be long enough to put Grizzly El Grandes in it.I tried to keep the size as close to a 4 arrow quiver hood as possible but made it 3 1/4" tall.

I used this form to make a fiberglass hood,using fiberglass cloth and epoxy resin and painted it just like the bow.

I really like the Great Northern gripper so got one of those with the mid-sized holes and figured how to attach it to a center shaft from an old Delta bolt on.

I then attached the other of the shaft in the hood and made a longer lower arm to angle the quiver like I wanted.

I like the way it turned out.It is sturdy,quiet,weighs 7 oz. and the gripper does what it is supposed to do.

I hate bow quivers that set out away from the bow or put the fletched end way forward of the lower bow tip.

The hood on this one is about 1/8" off the riser and the forward arrows nock end is just back of the lower bow tip and the lower limb just clears the fletching when drawn.

I also like the hood to not protrude past the riser much as this just creates a place for brush to hang up.Setup like this it is about as stream lined as I know how to get it for moving through stuff like that.

The finished quiver.
(http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a140/jbrandenburg/MagnesiumTD013.jpg)
Title: Re: The "A" Mag Refinish
Post by: shick on February 11, 2010, 12:15:00 PM
Jim, excellent job and photos.  It's timely as I just picked up a  can of Rustoleum flat black textured.  I will look for the zinc phosphate primer as it makes a lot of sense.  Many thanks.
Shick
Title: Re: The "A" Mag Refinish
Post by: JimB on February 11, 2010, 12:23:00 PM
I have always loved this little bow but have to admit I have neglected it the last couple years.It deserved freshening up.I like this quiver better than anything I have had on it thus far.

Here it is,loaded for bear,or lion or .......
(http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a140/jbrandenburg/MagnesiumTD012.jpg)
Title: Re: The "A" Mag Refinish
Post by: JimB on February 11, 2010, 12:26:00 PM
Shick,there is a Textured and a Multi Textured.Check out the Multi Textured also.
Title: Re: The "A" Mag Refinish
Post by: Al H on February 11, 2010, 12:26:00 PM
Nice job Jim.  I really like the quiver.  That is one good looking bow.
Al  :clapper:
Title: Re: The "A" Mag Refinish
Post by: yellow bow on February 11, 2010, 01:14:00 PM
real nice.  :clapper:
Title: Re: The "A" Mag Refinish
Post by: Stickbow98 on February 11, 2010, 04:29:00 PM
Excellent job, Jim. If he was here today, Ol' Fred himself would want to market that color and quiver design....I'd bet on it!!   :thumbsup:

>>--Ron--<>
  :archer:
Title: Re: The "A" Mag Refinish
Post by: 4runr on February 11, 2010, 06:48:00 PM
Beautiful job Jim!
Title: Re: The "A" Mag Refinish
Post by: MR BILL SHORTY on February 11, 2010, 07:54:00 PM
YOU DO SOME FINE WORK JIM. VERY NICE
Title: Re: The "A" Mag Refinish
Post by: Gary Sewell on February 11, 2010, 11:51:00 PM
Did you round off the Magnesium arrow shelf? Bow looks great.
Title: Re: The "A" Mag Refinish
Post by: d. ward on February 12, 2010, 09:37:00 AM
great looking job bd
Title: Re: The "A" Mag Refinish
Post by: JimB on February 12, 2010, 10:51:00 AM
"Did you round off the Magnesium arrow shelf? Bow looks great."

It has been a long time since I first stripped it but I don't remember changing that radius.

"great looking job bd"

Thanks Bow Doc.Can you or anyone tell me the width of the little bears on the latches?Rear foot to nose? I ordered that bow and was disappointed when it came in without bears.All the ones before had them.I'd like to make a set.Might even put one on the quiver.
Title: Re: The "A" Mag Refinish
Post by: OldSkoolArcher on February 12, 2010, 01:31:00 PM
If no one posts the dimensions of the bears before I get home this evening I can post them.
Title: Re: The "A" Mag Refinish
Post by: Earl E. Nov...mber on February 12, 2010, 05:48:00 PM
Boy it does look great, quiver too.
Interesting, the bow has no sight window cut out or hole for adjusting the arrow plate.
I guess I never noticed but I don't think I have seen one like that before. They weren't filled somewhere along the line where they?
Title: Re: The "A" Mag Refinish
Post by: OldSkoolArcher on February 12, 2010, 06:18:00 PM
(http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b14/COVEJEEPSXJ/TDBears001.jpg)
(http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b14/COVEJEEPSXJ/TDBears002.jpg)
(http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b14/COVEJEEPSXJ/TDBears003.jpg)
Title: Re: The "A" Mag Refinish
Post by: Hoof on February 12, 2010, 06:34:00 PM
Jim,
Great job! Looks awesome... I have studied that exact paint a few weeks ago at Wally world. Where did you find the primer at? Were any of your screw holes effected by the paint?
Chris
Title: Re: The "A" Mag Refinish
Post by: Wapiti Chaser on February 12, 2010, 07:19:00 PM
Earl,  I think he filled them in. Not sure how he did it but it looks great !
Title: Re: The "A" Mag Refinish
Post by: JimB on February 12, 2010, 07:45:00 PM
Earl,i mentioned earlier that I filled in those channels a lot of years ago.

Oldskool,thanks so much.Those pictures are perfect.I should be able to make a good likeness of them from that.I sure appreciate you doing that.I knew some were brown.Some were black also?

Hoof,I bought it off a website.If you do a search for zinc phosphate primer,it will come up.I will send you a PM.I first primed it and let the primer get into the sdrew holes.After that dried for 24 hrs I put bolts in the large threaded holes and for the small,latch screw holes,I cut Q Tips in half and screwed the stem into the holes before spraying the Multi Textured paint.
Title: Re: The "A" Mag Refinish
Post by: Hoof on February 12, 2010, 07:52:00 PM
Thanks Jim for the help and direction, Qtip trick sounds great. I hope mine turns out as good as yours!
Title: Re: The "A" Mag Refinish
Post by: OldSkoolArcher on February 12, 2010, 08:02:00 PM
QuoteOriginally posted by JimB:
Oldskool,thanks so much.Those pictures are perfect.I should be able to make a good likeness of them from that.I sure appreciate you doing that.I knew some were brown.Some were black also?
No Problem. Yea, the ones on mine are black.
Title: Re: The "A" Mag Refinish
Post by: Earl E. Nov...mber on February 12, 2010, 08:14:00 PM
Jim,  Sorry I missed that.. It does make it look really sweet. What did you use body filler?
Title: Re: The "A" Mag Refinish
Post by: Orion on February 12, 2010, 09:19:00 PM
Nicely done all the way around.  Those mag riser bows are really nice shooters.   :thumbsup:    :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The "A" Mag Refinish
Post by: stagetek on February 13, 2010, 10:20:00 AM
That's one of the nicest looking mag riser Bears I've seen. Great job !
Title: Re: The "A" Mag Refinish
Post by: JimB on February 13, 2010, 02:39:00 PM
Yes Earl,body filler.

Thanks guys.I agree Orion.I have had a lot of bows come an go but just can't let go of that one and have had it since 1972.I think it was a poor business decision to discontinue them.A real,working man's take down.
Title: Re: The "A" Mag Refinish
Post by: mwmwmb on February 13, 2010, 02:49:00 PM
nice job. I like the color. and the quiver looks great
Title: Re: The "A" Mag Refinish
Post by: JimB on February 13, 2010, 11:04:00 PM
Well,I have a bear thanks to OldSkoolArcher.This was a pain.I cut a piece out of some aluminum angle,that is 1/16" thick and used a jeweler's saw and needle files to shape it.It took a couple hours.I'm going to make a mold off it.I don't want to do that again.
(http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a140/jbrandenburg/MagnesiumTD019.jpg)
Title: Re: The "A" Mag Refinish
Post by: OldSkoolArcher on February 14, 2010, 10:13:00 AM
Very Very Cool. Nice Work!!
Title: Re: The "A" Mag Refinish
Post by: Gary Sewell on February 14, 2010, 01:59:00 PM
Nice job on the little bear, If you make any to sell let me know. One of my little black bears has the leg broke off.
Title: Re: The "A" Mag Refinish
Post by: yellow bow on February 14, 2010, 03:25:00 PM
nice job. good looking bear.  :thumbsup:    :cool:
Title: Re: The "A" Mag Refinish
Post by: JimB on February 16, 2010, 10:13:00 AM
I'm having to do some experimenting to see what is the best way and material to use to cast the bears.It is very easy to get air bubbles trapped around the edges.here is an epoxy black bear.I am going to make the ones for this bow,brown. (http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a140/jbrandenburg/MagnesiumTD020.jpg)
Title: Re: The "A" Mag Refinish
Post by: Gary Sewell on February 16, 2010, 03:19:00 PM
Very Nice,  Great job
Title: Re: The "A" Mag Refinish
Post by: Gary Sewell on February 18, 2010, 08:33:00 PM
Did you use black epoxy? or did you just paint them black? I need to fill some holes on a riser in the black glass.
Title: Re: The "A" Mag Refinish
Post by: JimB on February 19, 2010, 01:18:00 AM
Gary,I used a black epoxy putty called Magic Sculp.It is usually sold at taxidermy supply places.You will be surprised how hard it is to match black to black.I can send you a little of that stuff.
Title: Re: The "A" Mag Refinish
Post by: Gary Sewell on February 19, 2010, 09:33:00 PM
I have a Bear Green Striper handle that I was going to fill in the stabilizer hole. It is black fiber glass. Do you think it will match?
Title: Re: The "A" Mag Refinish
Post by: JimB on February 20, 2010, 05:02:00 PM
Gary,it is hard to say.It should be close.I often wondered why a guy couldn't fill the hole,sand the surface flush and spray black paint over the entire black lamination,then apply all his coats of finish over that.Bear occasionally painted over fiberglass.
Title: Re: The "A" Mag Refinish
Post by: shaft slinger on March 07, 2010, 09:35:00 AM
Why not add another black fiber glass strip over the intire front of the riser and sand it down??
you also could add a white and black to match.
  Jimb, i thought some one made some after market bears for the latchs?? i saw some gold ones some wheres.
Title: Re: The "A" Mag Refinish
Post by: Earl E. Nov...mber on March 07, 2010, 09:41:00 AM
Your bears are looking good. The next thing will be attaching them. The little hole in the latch was where a plastic post on the back of the bear went.
Of course they would break off. Mine are originals but just glued on, and I don't trust the glue well enough to get too rowdy with it.
Title: Re: The "A" Mag Refinish
Post by: 4runr on March 07, 2010, 10:14:00 AM
Harold, Bob York makes aftermarket latch bears.
Title: Re: The "A" Mag Refinish
Post by: d. ward on March 07, 2010, 10:30:00 AM
I do not recall the price of some after market bears but I know the hand make ones take some time to make bd
Title: Re: The "A" Mag Refinish
Post by: OldSkoolArcher on March 07, 2010, 04:57:00 PM
I believe Bob York charges $35 plus shipping for a pair of Bears. He makes two sizes and different colors.

Bob and his products are truely TOP NOTCH.
Title: Re: The "A" Mag Refinish
Post by: bear1336 on March 08, 2010, 04:17:00 PM
Very nice work
Title: Re: The "A" Mag Refinish
Post by: jcar315 on March 08, 2010, 04:36:00 PM
Great job all the way around on this one!
Title: Re: The "A" Mag Refinish
Post by: JimB on March 09, 2010, 10:24:00 AM
And now I find out someone sells bears!!!Oh well.I have been kind of dragging my feet on this project but I have finally decided on a color for the bears and plan to make them today.I should be able to install them tomorrow.I'll get pictures up when I do.

I found a cool padded,zippered case that the riser fits in nicely and rigged up a bow sock to hold the limbs.I plan to pack the bow in my cat quiver for lion hunting next year.
Title: Re: The "A" Mag Refinish
Post by: dkard on March 09, 2010, 03:27:00 PM
ANyone know how to get the latching clip out? This the little tab at holds the latch shut. I took the screw out but the clip and the spring are not coming out.

Thanks dave
Title: Re: The "A" Mag Refinish
Post by: JimB on March 09, 2010, 08:03:00 PM
Here is the are the rare,"Tundra Gray" bears.Only one known set ever made.I decided I wanted some contrast so I made them close to the same color as the riser.

The bears are made from an epoxy putty.I hand mixed tiny amounts of black and green pigments into the putty till I got the color I wanted.Casting urethanes don't take glue as well,so I chose to make them from epoxy.

These bears have no stem on the back.Instead,I used a countersink bit on the back of the hole in the latch.I covered the corresponding hole in the riser with a small piece of masking tape,then installed the latch on the rider.Now that the latch is installed,that hole is undercut in back.I dabbed some fast set paste epoxy in the hole(this becomes my stem)and applied a thin layer on the back of the bear and put it in place.
(http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a140/jbrandenburg/MagnesiumTD029.jpg)
Title: Re: The "A" Mag Refinish
Post by: JimB on March 09, 2010, 08:12:00 PM
I forgot to say,I repainted the latches with Rustoleum's black Texture paint.Not Multi Texture,like the riser,just "Texture".It looks similar to the paint on the newer Bear TD's.

Check out this padded case I found to pack the riser in.I got it from a knifemaker supply.It is black cordura,very well padded and lined with soft flannel.The price was $8.95.
 (http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a140/jbrandenburg/MagnesiumTD030.jpg)
Title: Re: The "A" Mag Refinish
Post by: yellow bow on March 09, 2010, 09:19:00 PM
looks great. the case is cool too.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The "A" Mag Refinish
Post by: OldSkoolArcher on March 09, 2010, 10:32:00 PM
Super Work!!

Link to place where you bought the case?
Title: Re: The "A" Mag Refinish
Post by: JimB on March 09, 2010, 11:25:00 PM
Sent you a PM,OldSkool.
Title: Re: The "A" Mag Refinish
Post by: Grant Young on March 10, 2010, 05:15:00 PM
Great Work Jim. I love the color and the detail work you have done is first rate. That's a real show piece. By the way, I have a set of ivory bears Bob York made for me on one of my takedowns. All things considered, yours are as nice.     Grant
Title: Re: The "A" Mag Refinish
Post by: JimB on March 11, 2010, 01:22:00 PM
Thank you Grant.Ivory sounds pretty cool.I had actually considered that for mine,then decided at the last minute on the gray-green.
Title: Re: The "A" Mag Refinish
Post by: rp65 on March 23, 2010, 11:35:00 PM
looks very nice.
Title: Re: The "A" Mag Refinish
Post by: Hoof on April 05, 2010, 05:17:00 AM
Awesome work Jim,mad skillz brother!  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The "A" Mag Refinish
Post by: Kelly on April 08, 2010, 11:42:00 PM
QuoteOriginally posted by JimB:
I forgot to say,I repainted the latches with Rustoleum's black Texture paint.Not Multi Texture,like the riser,just "Texture".It looks similar to the paint on the newer Bear TD's.

Check out this padded case I found to pack the riser in.I got it from a knifemaker supply.It is black cordura,very well padded and lined with soft flannel.The price was $8.95.
  (http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a140/jbrandenburg/MagnesiumTD030.jpg)
Jim;

Do they make any of these cases that a B handle would fit in? Or a set of limbs?

Thanks for this very informative thread.
Title: Re: The "A" Mag Refinish
Post by: JimB on April 11, 2010, 01:11:00 PM
This was by far the biggest padded knife case I could find,5"X19".I think for a "B" handle,you would need to find some other type of case.
Title: Re: The "A" Mag Refinish
Post by: dmart on April 11, 2010, 07:39:00 PM
Jim,

Excellent job on the riser and latches.  My best friend just retired to Az. I gave him my "A" riser and two sets of fascor (red tip)limbs with accessories for a retirement gift. I need to let him know this site and your post as well.

Thanks, Dean
Title: Re: The "A" Mag Refinish
Post by: ksbowman on April 27, 2015, 08:56:00 AM
Great thread! Very informative. You sir, are a craftsman!
Title: Re: The "A" Mag Refinish
Post by: mullet on August 26, 2015, 06:42:00 PM
Wow! Beautiful job.
Title: Re: The "A" Mag Refinish
Post by: frank bullitt on September 24, 2015, 09:20:00 PM
That is very nice, sir!

Love those Mags!