I recently received an unfinished all wood laminated bow stave from bowstick archery. It has a bamboo back, purpleheart belly, osage riser, and yew inner laminations. What type of finish would be good for this bow?
Thanks
For the average archer/ backyard bowyer any good clear wipe on Polyurethane applied witha sponge brush. sanding in between coats with fine grit ending with 1500..then a nice buff job at the end.
As for actual bow finishes, Thunderbird or Fullerplast,
Tru-Oil, a gun stock finish, makes an excellant bow finish. I apply it with a finger, rub it in well and let it dry, buff it down with 0000 steel wool and add the next coat. After about 5 or 6 coats you will have a deep shiny finish.
You can get Tru-Oil in most sporting good stores and at WalMart, etc. Pat
You may also try the Jay Massey epoxy finish. Probably the best as far as ease of application and durability.
If you can afford it and have a shop that will do it, automotive clear coat is GREAT! It is also EXPENSIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I just shot Valspar automotive clear on my recently finished Bingham takedown long bow.
It came out SUPER shiny but apprears to be a very durable finish. I'll dull it down with some steel wool.
Razor, I've left mine super shiny and will just put limb skins on it if I hunt with it. Just in case you hadn't thought of that.
Dave
Yeah. I should have said the "riser is shiny" but the limbs are not as much so. Good point on the limb skins tho'.
question? (well actually 2 questions.)
will Tru-Oil turn the bow a different color? ive got some for my gun stocks but ive never used it, so i dont know... that and im too lazy to go down to the shop and put some on a piece of wood...
and, will Polyurathane work over fiberglass limbs? i want to keep the bow the same color that it is...
I found that Helmsman polyurethane darkend the wood some. Linseed oil will REALLY darken it. I think most two part clears are fairly color free. That is why I used it on my bow. I wanted the colors to stay exactly the way they were.
tung oil works great, is easy to apply and durable. here is a finish with about 4 coats, and will get 4 or 5 more.
(http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s217/rocinante64/leatherstuffandturkeycalls019.jpg)
(http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s217/rocinante64/leatherstuffandturkeycalls018.jpg)
A few post up Hornseeker sure likes the finish he started useing. Look him up. Alan