What are the best finishes to use on a bow-I see some use "Tung Oil, Tru Oil and ??? what else. I have 6 Red oak bows ( board bows )setting here by the stove that I finished with Boiled Linseed Oil. I felt that would "soak into the wood and help keep it flexable. But I have not seen it used by anyone else, am I on the right path. I like the dried finish, its very subdued - does not give off a glare.

I use tru oil unlike tung oil it will give you some moisture and waterprofing.after finished you can rub it with fine steel wool to give it a dull look.i have also used outdoor minwax spray polyurathane.I was told about sealing the wood with very thin superglue and sand with 380-400 before finishing and have recently finished a osage bow that finished out really nice.

I'm thinking that Boiled Linseed oil will never cure.
I use it on wood-canvas canoes, and its not dry when I put the canvas on. Sometimes thats months in the future.
Tung-Oil is the way to go, on an all wood bows.
I use Thunderbird on my laminated bows.
There are alot of finishes out there, they will all work better than boiled linseed oil.
Actually pure beeswax is probably the BEST finish.
Jim

OUCH! I hope my hands don't get stickey now.

My wife went out and brought in a couple of bows. The finish ( boiled Linseed Oil ) is very dry. They were behind the stove for several days after appling the Oil so I guess that helped it to dry.

In my experience, boiled linseed oil often changes with the weather.  I use it to make/finish oilskin tarps and accoutrements for historical trekking.  When it's winter and dry, it's great.  When it's hot and humid, it gets sticky.

How about the Massey finish.  2-ton epoxy and acetone, about 3 or 4:1 acetone to epoxy.  Brush it on and let dry.  Steel wool and add another coat.  Very hard finish.

Aaron

I like the more simplistic look of the oils. Nothing beats some rubbed oil with som wax on top IMo

I used a butchers blosk wax on my favorite osage bow. It really makes a nice non glare finish. It probably isn't watertight, but it aint bad. I have also used three coats of spray on deft with a little steel wool after the second coat dries for a super easy, super glossy finish. Tung oil aint bad either. The best for water was definitely beeswax like jim curlee said. I founf it was easy to put on with a heat gun or stove. After you can see water bead right off em.

I've pretty much switched to Tru-oil....easy to work with and looks great...Steve

thoughts of mine on bow finishes:   http://analogperiphery.blogspot.com/2009/02/selfbow-finishes.html  

Hope that helps.

A finish that has worked well for me, recomended in Jay Massey's book,1 part shelack and 1 part boiled linsead oil, makes a beautyful finish especially over osage. John

On osage, I use 3 coats of Tru Oil and follow with 3 coats of spar urethane. I like the way the Tu Oil fills the pores and Ilike the waterproofing the spar urethane provides. Jawge

On whitewoods, I stain with a water based stain or Rit Dye dissolved in alcohol. The follow with 3 coats of spar urethane. Jawge

anyone ever try johnson paste wax??