I'm trying to decide between Spar Urethane, Polyurethane, Tung Oil, Tru Oil, and a Thunderbird as a finish over a snakeskin backed bow. Oh, and if I missed one that's better please do tell. What's the best finish and why?
I dont think you will go wrong with gloss epoxy base coats to get it leveled out. Then 320 grit before a top coat. For that I use Krystal dull one wet coat and then back off 2-3 mist coats.
I dont think you will go wrong with gloss epoxy base coats to get it leveled out. Then 320 grit before a top coat. For that I use Krystal dull one wet coat and then back off 2-3 mist coats.
Bob Morrison who has probably done more snake skins than anybody always uses Gloss Thunderbird. Brushing it on. If you are going to put this much time and money into a project you will not want anything that darkens and yellows
Thunderbird for me. Because, like Dave said, if I'm going to put that much time and effort into a bow, why settle coming down the home stretch?
Dave, do you know why he brushes it on? Is it to build depth and level the low spots over each scale plate? I always just sprayed it with the rest of the bow and haven't had an issue, so I was just wondering.
Jeff yes to build up that first good bas to fill. No foam brush it can leave bubbles.
Tru oil is what I use on my selfbows. 8 coats and polished with pumice powder and oil. Works great.
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(https://i.imgur.com/Ub3T2ZF.jpg)
Don't use tung oil its not water proof enough for any bow applications I used Thunderbird lots of coats .
That is a magnificent bow Weylin. I like Truoil, but never used it over snakeskin, but I did find out recently that it's a mix of boiled linseed oil and polyurethane, which goes a way towards understanding the way it handles.