I just completed a three piece take down d/r longbow. Aside from a little finish sanding, the bow is ready to be sprayed. I just got some gloss and flat from St. Joe River Bows (great people to do business with) along with their high solids grain sealer. I have a few questions.
How much sealer should I mix up for this bow?
Do I spray the faces of glass the same as the edges of the limb?
I believe I should sand the sealer before applying the gloss, correct?
How many coats of gloss before the flat?
Do I sand the gloss before the flat?
How long should I wait between coats? (My shop is heated)
As you can tell, this will be my first attempt at spraying finish on a bow. Thanks for any and all suggestions.
You will get all kinds of opinions here. But if you stay with the procedure by the manufacture you will be fine.
I would use the sealer on all wood areas. I spray the bow (wood) allow to dry and sand with 220. I keep doing this until the grain is filled. medium heavy coats for the filling process, you can also brush it. Once the grain is filled then I mix the gloss spray the bow with light coats 10 minutes apart until the gun is empty. I mix 30gr, 15A and 15B, then 7.5 grams of thinner after 30 minutes(follow directions). I wait 4 hrs then spray again. after 12+ hrs I will touch up the bow with 600grit then spray same amount with satin.
I don't use a sealer but instead seal with the epoxy. I will thin the epoxy (about 1/3ds a, b, and thinner) and then spray a coat and then as soon as it absorbs, spray another and again until it sits on the surface. Four hours later +- (in my heated spray room) I will put on the second set of thinned epoxy. Let dry until morning then sand...wait longer if gums when sanded.
This is when I write on my bows and then I'll put two more coats of gloss (not nearly as thin) and let dry until morning. I will sand and then spray the satin coat.
good luck, BigJim
Good advice. I'll add, if you're spraying a glass bow, and filling the wood grain first thing, reagardless of whether you're using sealer or the actual finish, there's no need to spray it on the glass, since it is already perfectly smooth. Doing so simply wastes finish and risks getting dust or dirt particles in the finish that will need sanded out. So, tape off the glass and just fill the grain of the riser and edges of the limbs. Remove the tape when the grain is filled and sanded, and continue.
Thanks everyone! This is some great info.
Work has been a bear lately, but I hope to start the finishing process this weekend. Any other tips or advice before I begin?
Ps. Thanks BigJim, I thought about just using the finish, a little thinned down, but then I saw the grain sealer. I'll see how this one turns out, then maybe try that method on the next. I'm sure I'll need more gloss soon, and I'll be sure to get some from you. It's always nice to see professional bowyers offering their expertise. Thanks.