Bamboo Finish?

1hornhunter · January 16, 2011, 11:47:00 AM

Almost ready for the finish on my first bamboo backed hickory bow. Question is what finish is good for the boo? I have a bunch of tru-oil and was thinking about using that. Thought I would ask the pro's first.

Thanks, 1Hornhunter

JamesV · January 16, 2011, 12:18:00 PM

Tru-oil is what I use on my Bamboo back bows, really maked the color pop.

James..........................

Aram · January 16, 2011, 12:21:00 PM

True oil will work fine but make sure you scrape the rind off the boo backing first especially if you want to stain first. I've seen a bow finished with polly over the rind and, to my surprise, it held out fine. But there isn't much that can penetrate that outer layer of bamboo.

macbow · January 16, 2011, 12:34:00 PM

Like above remove the rind and sand.
I like to stain with dye alcohol based or rit de- solved in alcohol.

I too like the True oil.
Ron

Pat B · January 16, 2011, 01:59:00 PM

You might be better off sanding the rind off with fine sandpaper rather than scraping. I have seen quite a few boo backed bows fail because of an unnoticed nick in the power fibers from scraping the rind off. It only takes a small nick to cause a splinter to raise.

H8nonCubs · January 16, 2011, 02:10:00 PM

I have used tung oil on my boo backed osage. Didn't seem to waterproof as well as the tru oil. Its been through a few downpours and I wasn't happy. Think I'll stick to tru oil from now on with the boo

hova · January 16, 2011, 05:22:00 PM

i got a trilam boo/maple/oak from jamesv , with rind still on. ill be staining a deep walnut (maybe almost even black) , then covering with tru oil.

im leaving the rind on natural , and i might tape it off all together , and polish it up real nice.

ive been pondering for a while now as well , so im happy you asked.

-hov

Loren Holland · January 17, 2011, 11:53:00 PM

i sand the rind, so it doesn't nick the boo, i don't want it to have any reason to lift a splinter. i have touched it up with a blow torch, but only for a second to add color in streaks, its a neat effect, although i read you shouldn't do that since it is like heat tempering...for stain, i love golden oak on boo, it leaves the boo this beautiful natural gold color. to finish, i use deft on everything, maybe i am lazy, but it dries fast, doesn't crack, and dries over even the oiliest of woods.

Walt Francis · January 18, 2011, 01:31:00 PM

Tru Oil and Boo has been hit or miss for me. The only finish's that have cracked on me (twice) were BBO's with 8-10 coats of tru oil. I think the cause was too many coats of tru oil, but I have used that many coats on yew and Osage bows without any problems.

Eric Krewson · January 18, 2011, 01:38:00 PM

I put on 5 or 6 thin coats of Tru-Oil and follow with one coat of satin spar urethane, mighty good looking finished product.

hova · January 18, 2011, 09:19:00 PM

ill get some pics of a B/M/RO tru-oil-along.

i am going to try just straight tru oil , and if its too light , i might sand it down and darken it. i wanna see what it looks like natural though , it sure is pretty.

-hov

vanillabear? · January 18, 2011, 09:27:00 PM

Osagetree · January 19, 2011, 05:30:00 AM

True oil - thin to win!

hova · January 19, 2011, 10:56:00 AM

yeah ot , i havent used more than 4 or 5 coats of tru yet. the stickbow i made only has 3 , and it is very nice.

looked at some wipe on poly , might have to pick some up...

-hov

sub-zero · January 19, 2011, 11:27:00 AM

I thought that leather dye was used over the rind because it would take the color. And that the boo was stronger with the rind on and it shouldn't be removed. Am I wrong on this? Making my first BBO now