Any good suggestions on the best way to hang a bow while spraying finish?
For recurves I have been using shower curtain hooks in the string groove, and that works fine. But longbow tips in particular are more trouble. I'd like something that will hold the bow steady as I spray so that it is not spinning as I go.
For the longbows I've been bending stiff wire to form a loop. Works pretty good on some tips, not so well on others.
When you find out, let me know. I ended up bending a metal hanger up to try and get mine suspended long enough to spray-wasn't too secure, either. Gotta be a better way...
Jeremy
I use soft brass wire and twist a figure 8 with one loop in the string grove and one goes over a cup hook in the ceiling.
I use a long piece of monofilament fishing line hung from a ceiling hook. Tie a slip not in the end and loop it around the knock grooves.
I hold my bows and spray them. When I am done, I balance them on the handle on a block of wood in the vice. When it is dry, I wrap the handle in leather. It works for me!
Put monofilament line on both ends so that the bow hangs flat. Tie the lines to another board and hang bow from it so you can move it somewhere to dry if neccassary.
I use a shingle nail hammered into the handle just enough o hold the bow suspended with a string. Also, the nail hole relieves pressure caused when the bow is drawn. Jawge
I have found that for selfbows to not totally finish the top string notch. What I mean is I double my notches at the top and hang it from that. After I put my finish (usually spray satin spar urathane) then I finish the top nock end's shaping sanding and finish. They always look fine. Makes tillering look kind of weird because you have to compensate for the extra inch or so but it has always worked for me.
Bruce
Nail goes in the belly--just a bit. Just kidding about relieving the pressure. :) Jawge
You had me scratching my head George.
I just hang mine by a string from a nock groove. It doesn't spin enough to bother me.
Dennis
For selfbows only! Use a drill and a small drill bit about the size of a panel or finish nail. Just about midway from the upper string nock to the tip of the limb; drill a hole from side to side making sure you are also centered in the part of the limb tip between the back & belly. Or in otherwords, make sure you're above the upper string nock and drill a hole from side to side in the portion of that area providing the most mass. The hole can be used for finish purposes and when completed tie on some horsetail hair or song bird feather for a wind indicator.
I just spin around with it. Feel your pain.
If you out the nail in the belly of the handle, the handle covering will cover it. Jawge
I have a loop of rope hanging form a hook in the ceiling. From that loop I hang a single wire from home phone cabling. I put a loop in it and hang the bow form the bottom nock, because I think if it dose affect the finish in the nock it is at the bottom and less noticeable. I didn't like the outcome by hanging the bow horizontal. I got to much trash in the finish even in a closed off room by its self.
My $.02
Cobbow
Here's what I use: Finishing Grip (http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=125;t=001637)
Here's what I've been using Whip. I prefinish the string grooves where the wire goes. The washers are to twist the wire tight(not done in this pic).The fixture is adjustable for lenght and spins.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v488/Shortbldtr/IMG_1102.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v488/Shortbldtr/IMG_1103.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v488/Shortbldtr/IMG_1104.jpg)
What a great idea! Thanks for the picts.
Wow, that's a deluxe set up Paul! Of course, I would expect nothing less ;)
Here's what I have been using, and they work very well to hold the bow without spinning if the string grooves are deep enough.
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y80/Jlasch/Bow%20Hospital/P1010873-1.jpg)
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y80/Jlasch/Bow%20Hospital/P1010872-1.jpg)
Where they don't work so well is on very small tip longbows like these from a Dwyer.
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y80/Jlasch/Bow%20Hospital/P1010875-1.jpg)
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y80/Jlasch/Bow%20Hospital/P1010874-1.jpg)
Like it Whip. The washer trick will work with small tips.