How to refinish my Hill Wesley Special?

typical2 · November 19, 2011, 12:23:00 PM

I have a HH Wesley Special that I thought was a bit bright to hunt with. So...I put some camo tape on the back. Of course, the tape didn't want to stick at first but as I removed some of it today, it peeled strips of the finish of of the fiberglass backing.

Can any body give me some directions as to how to repair this. I'm assuming I should carefully sand and then spray a finish like a polyurethane.

Any help would be appreciated.

Eric

jsweka · November 19, 2011, 03:11:00 PM

Sound like you have a great opportunity to add snake skins. They look great and will be great camo for the future.

If you don't go with the snake skin route, what you have planned will work. Sand the whole thing down with 320 or finer sand paper. Polyurethane will work as a finish. Apply several coats with rubbing out with 0000 steel wool in between coats.

typical2 · November 19, 2011, 03:30:00 PM

Any specific spray products that work better than others???

jsweka · November 20, 2011, 07:23:00 AM

I've always used wipe on poly. I don't use sprays simply for the fact that I don't have a good spray area to avoid getting fumes all through my house.

Someone should be along to recommend a good spray product.

tenbrook · November 20, 2011, 08:25:00 AM

QuoteOriginally posted by typical2:
Any specific spray products that work better than others???

http://www.amazon.com/Minwax-33255-Helmsman-Urethane-Finish/dp/B0009XCLIC

typical2 · November 20, 2011, 08:37:00 AM

I was thinking of spray to try and get that satin "textured" finish. If I don't like my results I may be thinking snakeskins. I was thinking about that anyways because I really find camo tape on a longbow "cheesy" and not attractive.

typical2 · November 20, 2011, 11:50:00 AM

Bought some of the Minnwax Helmsman spray. I'll let you know how it goes.

tenbrook · November 20, 2011, 12:33:00 PM

QuoteOriginally posted by typical2:
Bought some of the Minnwax Helmsman spray. I'll let you know how it goes.

I think you'll be happy.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Also, sometimes its easier to refinish the whole bow then trying to blend the new finish.

typical2 · November 24, 2011, 02:22:00 PM

I've put 3 coats of the Minnwax Helmsman spray on and it's looking pretty good. I don't know if I can get it to spray a texture like the original finish where it is like small beads of spray. I'll play around with it a bit more.

7 Lakes · November 25, 2011, 03:18:00 PM

To get that textured finish hold the can around a foot away. That will put on a non glare textured "overspray".