Clear finish

[snowplow]

Hey guys, what are the good options for clear finishes for bows?

Here's the kicker, I am making a pvc bow for my young daughter. So I dont thing the oils I hear about will work.

This little bow will be painted and snakeskin backed. So my goal will be to find something thick enough to help not chip off the paint and protect the snakeskin as much as possible. First bows are always keepsakes  

I make one for my little boy a bit ago, and his I used spray Spar Helmsman Eurothane I think. It worked out pretty good but I would like something thicker and tougher if possible. I did 4-5 coats. Maybe the answer is just to use that again and to a BUNCH of coats?

Any advice for a dad who's got to deliver....?

[KenH]

Helmsman Spar varnish is MY choice for bow finish.  The only thing tougher (but it's probably only available in brush-on) would be a bar top varnish for surfacing pub-type bars...

[snowplow]

I didn't realize it was so tough.  

Do you think I could do it thick enough to smooth out the snakeskin?

What about epoxy?

[Pat B]

What kind of skin are you using?  Some snake skins are pretty smooth where others have pretty pronounced scale scars.
Some folks use Massey finish(2 part epoxy thinned with acetone) but IMO it is too much trouble getting a smooth finish with it.
I us 5 or 6 coats of Tru-Oil over skins and it covers it pretty well.

[snowplow]

Not sure but looks like the large scaled diamond back type variety.

I dont know anything about tru-oil. Does it dry hard like a clearcoat?

[Pat B]

Tru-Oil(Birchwood-Casey) is an linseed oil based gunstock finish. It doesn't dry brittle hard like some finishes but is flexible. I've used it on bows for many years and some arrows over the last few years.

[snowplow]

But it does dry to an actual finish? I hear 'oil' and I picture it soaking into wood but not actually drying. Just splitting hairs here because nothing will soak into the pvc, it will have to dry on top like a clearcoat.

[Pat B]

It is a top coat and doesn't sink in much if at all. Tru-Oil has a drying agent added. It is self leveling and dries t a high gloss finish. For my bows I spray with satin poly over the Tru-Oil finish to cut that shine. I've never tried it on PVC so you should do a test first to see how it works.

[snowplow]

Awesome, the self leveling sounds perfect for a snakeskin.