What is the best way to bemove the finish on a bow? I have concerns about using finish removers not knowing if they would damage the glue used in the laminations. I understand some sand and some scrape is there any other safe ways being used?  Any input is appreciated.

Fixer,

I use 150 grit sandpaper on mine. once down to the glass or wood, (and you can tell) then 220, 300, and maybe 400 grit before a refinish.

Good luck

Mike

I use to sand....now I scrape first and then sand with 220 - 600 and the last 2 refinishers I used super glue as a finish on the riser. Looks great...when you put it on thin and polish with 0000 steelwood after a couple of coats and every coat after..


Good luck

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Glenn

Thanks for the info. When I was trying to find a remover the people in the paint dept. said there could also be a reaction with the fiber glass as to staining it, and some of the removers would also remove epoxy that was my concern with glue lines. So I thought I would check here to see what was used and it sounds like you do it probably the safest and best way. Thanks again for your feed back.

I use a cabinet scraper to get the worst of it off, then progressively finer sandpaper, starting with someting around 100 grit.

Thanks Adam, so far sounds as though everyone uses manual means no chemical methods.

Here's a video clip of bow I rehabbed this summer.  Scraper and sandpaper to strip it.    

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFCc3_Lk_HY

Adam, Looks like you do good work the bow looks real nice. Thanks DeVon

I use lacquer thinner, steel wool and various grit sand papers.  Lacquer thinner evaporates fast and doesn't seem to effect glues.  I stripped a factory camo finish from a old Bear Kodiak Mag only to find another complete finish underneath including new silkscreen prints.