OK here's the preliminary results. It looks to me that what the base finish is has more to do with the finish durability than either the VHT or the Duplicolor wheel finish. I started with a piece of locust and used the edge grain. I sanded the wood down to 220 grit before adding the different base finishes. Once they were dry I lightly sanded them with 320 grit and wiped them off. I sprayed each with VHT and Duplicolor, let them set for 10 minutes in a 80 degree hot box. I did that for 3 coats and then left it over night to cure. I used the wheel finishes by themselves and over 5 minute epoxy, wipeon poly, superglue, rustolium flat camo and flat clear, Krylon blue paint, and Helmsmans gloss poly. Here's a picture of the rock that I used the point to hit each sample. I also hit each with a hammer at an angle. I don't think there's a finish that would withstand this with no damage. But there only appears to be slight flaking on a few due to the base finishes weakness.

Fairly thorough piece of research.

Would be easier to just be a bit more careful with your bows!

;-)

Here's the Duplicolor samples.
By itself.
 

Over superglue
 

Over 5 min epoxy
   

Over wipeon poly
 

Over blue Krylon
   

Over Rustolium deadflat clear
 

Over Rustolium Flat Camo paint
 

Over Helmsman's gloss poly
 

Here's the VHT samples
VHT only
 

VHT over superglue
 

Over epoxy
 

Over wipeon poly
 

Over blue Krylon
 

Over rustolium dead flat clear
 

Over rustolium flat camo
 

Over Helmsman's gloss poly
 

There didn't appear do be any conflict with these finishes that caused the base finish to blister etc but the base finish appears to be the weak link as far as durability is concerned.

I'll have to try the wheel finishes only and see if I can sand them down to fill the grain to get a smooth finish but dang this stuff is hard so it could be a lot of work. Guess I'll have to get busy.

From what I'm seeing there Galen, my duplicolor matte wheel finish probably chipped and flaked due to my not sanding well enough before I sprayed it. Not enough adhesion, I wondered about that ....

Thanks for the extra work brother!!

I have seen the VHT in colors in quart cans. But not the clear. Would be a good way to go for a lot of bows. I think the filler base coats will still be needed on some woods.

Would the stuff in the quarts need to be sprayed?

You fellas might want to take a look at this company.
https://www.clearcoating.com/testing/detail/scratch-hardness/

Pretty proud of that stuff!!

Ya all need a can of that black rubber they sell for dipping tools into to give them a nice chip proof rubber grip.

I'm having nightmares now. I keep dreaming about Ole Benny Boy sneaking into my bow shop and beating my bows with pointed rocks.    

I'll mail you the rock Roy          
Hey Roy now that's an idear tape off the grip area and spray it with that black rubber for a super nonslip grip. Dang Roy you got me thinking. If I stipple the grip first then spray it with that rubber stuff it would look just like beaver tail without the headache of working with beaver tail. I'll post pictures later.

QuoteOriginally posted by BenBow:
I'll mail you the rock Roy              
Hey Roy now that's an idear tape off the grip area and spray it with that black rubber for a super nonslip grip. Dang Roy you got me thinking. If I stipple the grip first then spray it with that rubber stuff it would look just like beaver tail without the headache of working with beaver tail. I'll post pictures later.

Now that is an interesting idea.  Please post some pictures if you try it.

I tried it over true oil/armor all  finish and it is smooth and hard... I reallly like it. No adhesion problems.   But I'm not doing the rock test!   Lol

The beavers would like it.

Would it be tested by throwing it in a pond?

Ben, I don't have any problems working with a Beaver Tail... But I've been told Ole Kenny M has a problem wrestling them down  

Roy I wonder if he grabs them from the wrong end    
Monterey it's so dry here that even if I threw the bow into the Rio Grande the bow string wouldn't get wet.  Shoot even the three mosquitoes that live here are dehydrated.    

Beaver wrestling is the MO state sport....