Bow finish

[rockkiller]

I'm a very amateur bowyer. I built a bow every few years so it doesn't pay for me to get the expensive finishes.
I am wondering what rattle can finish is being used?
I did my last bow with several coats of Dupi-Color wheel matte clearcoat and then a couple of coats of Krylon colormax flat crystal clear and it has cracks on the belly side after shooting just a couple of times.
So any suggestions????
Thanks

[kennym]

Did you test to see if the two finishes are compatible?

I use the duplicolor auto clear coat and then a couple coats of the wheel finish to matte it

The wheel finish doesn't seal up well imo so it is only to kill the shine for me

[Kirkll]

The problem with a rattle can finish is you can easily get too much material on it in one coat. You are much better using multiple light coatings.  You can have issues much the same using a spray gun with too big of tip.

I'd recommend trying Helmsman spar varnish. It's user friendly and holds up pretty well. Staying with one type of finish will help too...

When i spray my finishes i use a high build gloss material that lays down nicely, and on my final coats i turn up the pressure, adjust the fan to a fine mist, and hold the gun back about 12" when spraying.  This gives you a fine matte finish that is a non reflective with a satin look .

It's definately worth going to an air gun if you want a professional finish.    Kirk

[rockkiller]

I did try them out on .a piece of scrap and it looked good and they are all acrylic .It only cracked on the belly side after shooting maybe a couple dozen arrows.
I will take it back down and try your combo.

Thank you

[kennym]

Loved Helmsman til I sprayed a bocote riser with it.  Too much oil and dries too slow I guess. Turned to gummy mess and I scraped it all off...

[rockkiller]

This is bocote..You may even know the guy I got it from😀