I used some unknown dark wood for a couple of accent overlays on the handle of my most recent bow and for some reason the spar urethane I put on it will not dry. It dries up fine on the maple, ash, and glass surrounding it, but on this brown mystery wood it just doesnt dry! has anybody else come across something like this? Maybe the wood releases some oils or something?

Yes on the oil. A coat of schellac first will correct that.

Ah, the perils of using Mystery Wood!

Before I posted this I sanded it off, cleaned it with alchohol and recoated it with spar. Will this eventually dry or do I have to sand it off again?

No!

sand and clean again
from roy
A coat of schellac first will correct that.

I had to sand and clean 3 time before I did it right.

Dat's cause yer ah slow learner, Maxi-boy..  

yep

Sounds like ipe

Bocote for me

Bocote here too.

Minwax makes a sanding sealer.  It dries quickly and fills open pore wood.  Shellac also works fine but leaves a bit of yellow.

Super glue will also work and you can just seal the accents with it.

QuoteOriginally posted by rainman:
Super glue will also work and you can just seal the accents with it.

This is what I do also. For any of the rosewoods, any Ipe that is oily, bocote.

It's a pain to get it to come out perfect though. I think I'll try the shellac.