I've got 6 coats of Tru-oil on an Osage bow. The wood sands nicely, but the snake skins are rough. Can I smooth the them with steel wool? Yes, I pulled all the scales off the skins.
The rough skin seems like it will fray the the string loop as I string and unstring.
I use 0000 steel wool between coats of Tru-Oil. It works well. You can burnish the edges of the snake skins with a smooth round object like the shank of a screw driver to compress it and help protect it from fraying.
Thanks. I'll try it.
I put on 3 heavy coats, then start sanding between coats with 400 grit wet dry sandpaper. 12 to 13 coats will make the skin look like it is under glass.
Beware!! You can rub thru the skin fairly easily down toward the tail even with 0000 steel wool.
Gods caution. Thanks!