Noob Questions on limb thickness and tillering

[CamoZ]

I am wondering if Mink Oil will work as a bit of a finish? It is all I have here, so just wondering if that is suitable?

[Roy from Pa]

Yes it will be fine, I'd do about 4 coats anyway. Just keep applying it until you like the results. Might not be water proof but will be water repellant.

[CamoZ]

Great..I did not want to have to go out to buy something. I will post a few pics in a while with the finished results..I am pretty happy with it for the first one...the handle turned out fairly decent..not exactly what I wanted but still okay nonetheless..

[CamoZ]

oh..wait..can you sand again after an application of mink oil..i know with urethane and such you sand between coats..is it the same for oils or will that just mess it up?

[Roy from Pa]

I have never used mink oil, so I don't know for sure. But I would imagine to just rub it on and just smooth it over with your hand till it's smooth and gone. Let it dry and do again and again. What's it say on the can? Or do a search online for it's application. I use tung oil and apply it with rubber gloves and I just saturate the bow, let it dry about 5 or 6 minutes and rub it off with a dry rag. I let it dry 24 hours and do it again, I do 4 coats.

[CamoZ]

I would much rather use tung oil. I have used it on many other wood projects and I like it. You can sand between coats with it I know. With Mink I am not sure if I can sand again once applied..I will do some more research..not finding much though on sanding between mink oil coats.

[Roy from Pa]

Make your next handle like this.

[CamoZ]

What kind of wood is that riser, ebony?

[Roy from Pa]

East Indian Rosewood

[CamoZ]

ah..I have some Madagascar Ebony, Zebra wood, Blood wood, Mahogany, Bo-cote, and Purple Heart..I will try out one of these as a riser next time. It looks like I can get away with a much thinner riser i I want too eh?

[Roy from Pa]

[CamoZ]

laminated..I think I will wait to tackle one of those..Can I use a 1/4" (or a lil less) riser? I will want the handle to be solid (not bend)..will a 1/4" riser, once shaped, bend at all?

[Roy from Pa]

1/4 too thin, use 1 inch.

[CamoZ]

What about using 2 different 1/4" pieces..say..one 1/4 Zebra, One 1/4 bo-cote,??

[Roy from Pa]

How about 3 of those?

[CamoZ]

could do..3 different woods ..might look funny though..hmm..1/4" riser and make one that bends in the middle?

[Roy from Pa]

Glue on risers ya don't want them bending in the middle. They go poof.

[CamoZ]

yea..i keep thinking I do not want to risk a bending handle style bow..too much work to have it  bust up..