Hey guys. Been around traditional archery for a while but new to this site. Nothing better than a bunch of bow nuts! Look forward to meeting all of yall.
Question: I always have trouble labeling bows. I use Minwax wax finish a lot on good ol knock around bows. I've put a few labels (#s, Made for: , date, etc) but it always seems to blur a bit. What do the real "pros" use for labeling?
I think India Ink is suppose to work well.
I buy gel pens from Office Depot for gold or silver lettering. Or fine tip Sharpies for black.
Sharpies are what I've had trouble with.
Acrylic ink is my choice. You can get it in pens but I haven"t found one I like. I use a calligraphy pen. Bamboo skewers also work.
It is water soluble so can be thinned.
Drys very fast. I use Tru oil over it.
I went to "Hobby Lobby" last weekend to look for a white extra fine point paint pen, they didn't have white but I did see Calligraphy pens and white arcrylic ink for the pens..I ended up getting a Sakura white paint pen at the Joanne craft store, they work OK but not as fine of a line as I really want. I will do some research and buy the Calligraphy pens next time.
Label before any finish type?
"Sharpies are what I've had trouble with."
Thats weird I've never had a problem with Sharpies. I spray two coats of gloss, write and mist a coat of satin overtop. Then two coats of satin and I'm done. Maybe I've just been lucky with the type finish I use.
I use the extra fine paint pens in gold and white from hobby lobby.
Put on your 2-3 gloss coats and let dry good. Then lightly steel wool the area your writing on. Write on it. Let it dry for a couple hours. Then put on the satin with a Matte type finish.
Same procedure as Shawn. 2 to 3 coats of tru oil then writing then. More coats and finally poly.
So basically what I'm hearing is that poly type seals work with various labels.
What if you're only doing a Minwax finishing wax or bees wax type finish?
Not sure on that last question. Once I switched to thunderbird I havent looked back .
Good enough. I'll get some pens from HL and do some testing.
I've had problems only when I wipe on a finish over the lettering with a sharpie. I've used sharpie paint pens without any problems. And I find if it's a spray on finish then theres no friction to wipe off the lettering.
Yep. Think that's exactly what I've been doing to cause the problem.
AH yes if your wiping the finish on then I could see a problem. Regretably I don't have awesome spraying equip. I use a spray can finish. I've used or tried a bunch. My favorite comes from Ace Hardware that is Poly for indoor and EXTERIOR and it's flexible. Those that know stuff like that tell me it's more like a varnish finish so it does "yellow" and it's not fast drying. But it's held up good for me on many bows. When doing TD's I always finished the riser with super glue! Tuff as nails finish just apply in a well ventilated area.
I never knew you boys from Morgantown could write and spell.. :laughing:
My sister grad u ated second grade! Best three years of her life! She spell checks for me!
The Sharpies marked "Industrial" do not fade. I had to buy them by the box from an Office Supply store.
For Black, India Ink is by far the best. Sharpies do not have the depth of black and are semitransparent. Get India INk Faber Castell S tip and you will never look back.
I have probably spent close $40 trying all manner of pens etc, and the only one that worked really well was a CD marker, but it doesn't come in white or gold which is needed on some veneers As mentioned if you use a wipe on as I do they are the only one that don't smudge even after hours drying. Spray can no worries. wWite india ink left over night to dry completely and then a light wipe of finish as a first coat is where I'm at now.Few more coats buffing with 0000 steel wool and its all go.
Geeze Bob, I thought over there ya all would mix Kangaroo dung with beer and write on the bows with turkey quills:)
:bigsmyl:
Didn't realize this was going to be such a hot topic!
Is that the Faber Castell Super Fine? And has anyone tried other colors of Faber Castell?
Was thinking I'd just use paint pens or whatever looks best, spray on a little poly, then maybe I can do my wipe on poly or whatever and it won't smear it.