Finishing a bow?

[DXH]

I need to seal my homemade bow...Ive been told several things- polyurethane, lacquer, etc.
I know polyurethane will crack What else is out there?

[Trux Turning]

Tru oil works well.

[red hill]

ditto on tru oil.

[D]

I use spray lacquer from minwax in a satin finish.  It really brings out the color in the wood.  It dries really fast and the satin isn't really shinny so theres no need to dull down.  I've never tried tru oil but a lot of people on here say its works really good.  I like the minwax cause I can just run down to walmart and get more anytime I need it.

[don s]

tru oil. don

[okie64]

tru oil or tung oil.

[jsweka]

I've always used polyurathane and haven't had any cracking issues.

[Roy Steele]

I've used everything you could thing of at one time or another. But have setled on bee's wax about 15 years ago just heat it in with a hair dryed.
 It's just not a wood cover up like most. With heat the pours totally soak up the wax.Totally water proffs but lets the bow breath.
 Something few people that into conceration.

[Roy from Pa]

I have always used the wipe on, wait 6 or 7 minutes, and wipe off tung oil. Does a great job with no dust or runs and 4 or 5 coats letting it dry 24 hours between coats makes a nice finish. Is not water proof, but is water repellant.

Never tried true oil but I see a lot of replies about it. How do you apply it? Just rub it on and into the wood and it soaks in? Does it smooth out to a thin coat when you apply it? Do you use a rag or your fingers to apply. How long between coats?

[PEARL DRUMS]

I have used Tru Oil ,Tung Oil, poly, Spar and everything in between. They all work fine if used correctly. The last few I sealed I dipped in Spar I had in a 4" PVC tube. One dip per half and they were sealed with a thick coat. Try it once. If the finish cracks it was probably too thick.

[Pat B]

Tru-Oil!

[k-hat]

Teak oil.  The base is tung oil with a few other additives, so ditto on what Roy said       I do add a beeswax/mineral oil finish over the oil to waterproof a little more.

[snag]

I've only done one selfbow with Tru-oil. But it went on real easy and left a great finish. I just used a rag and wiped it on. Steel wooled in between coats. Only had to put 3 coats on to get a good finish on it.