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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: bunyan on July 01, 2016, 11:07:00 AM

Title: Camoing your bow?
Post by: bunyan on July 01, 2016, 11:07:00 AM
I've been thinking about giving my bow a camo paint job for this fall. I've read through past threads on the subject and I know several guys have recommended waxing the bow before spraying for an was to remove finish. My question is what kind of wax do you use? Beeswax? String wax? Candle stick? None of the past threads mention it! So how do you go about camping YOUR bow? Thanks!!
Title: Re: Camoing your bow?
Post by: HALFCAWKT on July 01, 2016, 12:10:00 PM
If you use limbsations, you can just peel the piece off any time you want.
Title: Re: Camoing your bow?
Post by: kevsuperg on July 01, 2016, 12:13:00 PM
Yeah I've never been a big fan of spray painting my bows. Get a set of slip on limb covers or go to a fabric store pick out a camo of your choice and sew up your own that's the way to do it.
Title: Re: Camoing your bow?
Post by: MnFn on July 01, 2016, 12:34:00 PM
I think paste wax would work, alone or with paint. Unless it was white or high gloss I wouldn't worry much too about it.
You might ask Tippit, I think he used to paint a few.
Title: Re: Camoing your bow?
Post by: Zradix on July 01, 2016, 01:47:00 PM
I consider paint permanent.
Sure there are removable paints, prewaxing tricks and other paint methods which can make removing the paint easier...most of the time.

I'd either go with limbsations or some sort of "sock" if removal of the camo is the plan.
Title: Re: Camoing your bow?
Post by: Pat B on July 01, 2016, 01:50:00 PM
Just spray it with a satin finish. The deer will never see it unless you move too much.
Title: Re: Camoing your bow?
Post by: Longtoke on July 01, 2016, 03:06:00 PM
I use washable finger paint for little kids. Mix it up to get a couple good camo colors then paint it on with my fingers and let it dry. Cuts the shine off my bow and holds up pretty well if you don't get it wet. I actually just cleaned the paint of my recurve I used for turkey this spring.
Title: Re: Camoing your bow?
Post by: Pine on July 01, 2016, 03:50:00 PM
Another old trick is dark colored nylon stockings . But they will snag easy .
Title: Re: Camoing your bow?
Post by: old_goat2 on July 01, 2016, 04:17:00 PM
I just put camo face makeup on mine when I feel the need, it can be kind of messy with transfer problems, but it washes off easily, basically just wipes off and will wash right out of clothes that it might rub against and transfer the makeup too!
Title: Re: Camoing your bow?
Post by: Shadowhnter on July 01, 2016, 04:38:00 PM
Can you post a pic of your bow? Im just trying to figure out what makes a bow even need camo?
Title: Re: Camoing your bow?
Post by: RJonesRCRV on July 01, 2016, 05:24:00 PM
I used my 4 year old son's washable paint to put some leafy stripes on my bow's black glass limbs for turkey hunting. It smeared a bit with dew and light rain, but came off when it was time. As long as you dont plan to go out in a good rain, it should be fine.
Title: Re: Camoing your bow?
Post by: highlow on July 01, 2016, 05:28:00 PM
Agree Shadowhunter. I can't recall any time, if ever, when the bow has spooked an animal. And I hunt with some high gloss ones. Your experience might vary.
Title: Re: Camoing your bow?
Post by: BAK on July 01, 2016, 05:57:00 PM
It's more about what gives you confidence.  I don't think the deer care at all.
Title: Re: Camoing your bow?
Post by: Longtoke on July 01, 2016, 06:10:00 PM
Quote
Originally posted by BAK:
It's more about what gives you confidence.  I don't think the deer care at all.
Title: Re: Camoing your bow?
Post by: Stump73 on July 01, 2016, 06:16:00 PM
They make paint for vehicles that will just peel off when you get tired of it.
Title: Re: Camoing your bow?
Post by: M60gunner on July 01, 2016, 06:36:00 PM
I used to camo my wheel bows. I used regular old car wax first. Then I used camo paint that was in a kit from Martin Archery. I have seen the paint at 3 Rivers site. It comes off with Mineial Spirits.
Do not use latex house paint!! I ruined a set of limbs trying to get that paint off. I ended up sending the limbs to maker for a refinish job.
i have also just used string wax rubbed on to dull the gloss.
Title: Re: Camoing your bow?
Post by: elk nailer on July 01, 2016, 08:39:00 PM
go to dipyourcar.com. they make a rubber paint that peels off. three camo colors.
Title: Re: Camoing your bow?
Post by: Sam McMichael on July 01, 2016, 09:39:00 PM
I painted two bows with paint that was supposed to easily come off with the company's paint remover. This paint was specifically sold to camo sports equipment. That was in the 1970's, and I never did get all that paint off. Since then I have hunted my bows as they come and have never had a gloss finish cause problems.
Title: Re: Camoing your bow?
Post by: bunyan on July 01, 2016, 10:11:00 PM
Thanks for all the input guys! I realize painting a bow is a bit of a polarizing subject, and I'm not even sure I'm going to do it. I know of plenty of experienced bowhunters who do, and plenty who don't. This would be on a fox breed and while the back of the bow is reasonably dark it does have some shine. The belly is very light in color and could potentially spook game coming from behind. I'm a ground hunter and every advantage helps! I'm just thinking if I wax and paint it for hunting season I can remove it for the red of the year. I do like the kids paint idea! I'd try some sort of skins or limb leaves but I don't like hanging too much off my bow.
Title: Re: Camoing your bow?
Post by: Shadowhnter on July 01, 2016, 10:30:00 PM
Quote
Originally posted by shed hunter:
They make paint for vehicles that will just peel off when you get tired of it.
Yes, Ive seen it before...on GM products!   :biglaugh:
Title: Re: Camoing your bow?
Post by: shag08 on July 01, 2016, 11:43:00 PM
Shadowhnter, you beat me to it! I was gonna say the paint on my Chevy truck would have been great for a bow...it came right off in about 5 years.
Title: Re: Camoing your bow?
Post by: damascusdave on July 03, 2016, 08:09:00 AM
Limbsations would give absolutely no feeling you have something hanging off your bow since they are paper thin...when I want to hunt with a camoed bow I use my Fox Maverick that has been camo dipped...which reminds me I should hunt that bow a bit this fall

DDave
Title: Re: Camoing your bow?
Post by: ThePushArchery on July 03, 2016, 08:17:00 AM
Use Plasti-dip spray coating.

It's rubber spray in paint. It's awesome, hold up well, deadens the vibration in your bow and when you're ready to remove it, literally pick at it with your finger nail to lift a tiny section, and it peels right off. No residue, none left behind.

I was shooting an indoor 600 round with a set of target limbs that I sprayed to hunt with in the late season. About halfway through I decided to peel it off, and I did so before the guys got back from pulling and scoring their arrows in one round.

Plasti-dip is where it's at
Title: Re: Camoing your bow?
Post by: Longtoke on July 03, 2016, 11:48:00 AM
Here is an example of the kids finger paint. easy to remove and easy to match terrain, this was my attempt at something kind of "sandstone and sage" which was the country i was hunting.

 (http://i.imgur.com/VdN0IBZ.jpg)  

  (http://i.imgur.com/cBZPxNE.jpg)
Title: Re: Camoing your bow?
Post by: HALFCAWKT on July 03, 2016, 01:39:00 PM
Toke, that looks great!
Title: Re: Camoing your bow?
Post by: frank bullitt on July 03, 2016, 02:29:00 PM
Cool camo job, Clay!

Deer skull looks good, too!

Smallmouth jig.
Title: Re: Camoing your bow?
Post by: tippit on July 03, 2016, 09:19:00 PM
What I do is wax (furniture or car wax) the limbs heavy with wax But don't rub it off so you have a thick layer of wax on.  Then I just hit it  with light puffs of spray paint held a couple of feet way from the limb.  I want it to look like a shadow not a completely painted limb.  By just doing thin puffs, I don't get any heavy shiny spots of paint. Paint can be removed quite easily later with a little heat from a hair dryer...tippit

   (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v110/tippit/MorrisonSprayedFoamCoreLimbs001.jpg)
Title: Re: Camoing your bow?
Post by: pdk25 on July 03, 2016, 09:48:00 PM
Quote
Originally posted by highlow:
Agree Shadowhunter. I can't recall any time, if ever, when the bow has spooked an animal. And I hunt with some high gloss ones. Your experience might vary.
That you know of, LOL.  I have been approaching friends on stands when I didn't know where they were until I was practically blinded by sunlight glinting of of their bow.  I can't imagine that deer don't occasionally see that and change their route.
Title: Re: Camoing your bow?
Post by: mj seratt on July 03, 2016, 11:18:00 PM
I use paraffin, the kind you buy at the grocer's for use in canning.  Just rub it on until you've got a good coat.  Dulls up everything so there is no shine/reflection.  Buffs off when you're ready.


Murray
Title: Re: Camoing your bow?
Post by: bunyan on July 04, 2016, 09:15:00 AM
Thanks for all the great ideas! Tippit, your previous posts were exactly the ones that had me wondering how to go about doing this! Thanks for the advice! I guess its not camping a bow, so much as "shadowing" it to help it blend in!
Title: Re: Camoing your bow?
Post by: jackdaw on July 04, 2016, 09:45:00 AM
I painted and old refinished 1971 Bear Grizzly. Just used Regular old Krylon spray paint...I knew it was a one way street I was going down and not going to remove it! However, why not buy those bow  sleeves that are made of Some type of spandex from Alaska bowhunting supply.??? They are relatively inexpensive and work very well. When you're done just take them off....
Title: Re: Camoing your bow?
Post by: frank bullitt on July 04, 2016, 10:20:00 AM
Never painted a bow. Just use string wax or crayons, to cut the sheen.

Always plenty of both around!
Title: Re: Camoing your bow?
Post by: Roger Norris on July 04, 2016, 11:47:00 AM
I have painted a few shotguns and M4's. Rustoleum works great. If I were painting a bow, I would consider it permanent and go that route.

But these days I just buy green glass bows. No camo needed.

It's the shine, not the color.
Title: Re: Camoing your bow?
Post by: stagetek on July 05, 2016, 11:34:00 AM
For about $15 you can pick up some nice camo sleeves on the auction site. A much easier option than paint.
Title: Re: Camoing your bow?
Post by: TURKEYFOOTGIRL on July 05, 2016, 02:37:00 PM
Stretchy vet wrap. They even make camo wrap. Works awesome. No shine. Simple removal.
Title: Re: Camoing your bow?
Post by: mangonboat on July 05, 2016, 04:56:00 PM
I went through a 20 year  phase where I camo'd every bow I had with flat spray paint, and did the same to spring arm bow quivers. I grew up envying guys who got their Bear bows with factory camo. Only think I can say for sure is no critter ever saw a glint reflecting from the Bear coin, a flat limb face or the hood of my quiver....they were too busy laughing at my home-made camo clothes. When I grab one of those old camo bows off the rack now, it connects me to hunts many moons ago.
Title: Re: Camoing your bow?
Post by: Don Stokes on July 06, 2016, 04:22:00 PM
I just peeled camo tape off a longbow that had been there for a decade or so. I don't know if I'll ever get the dried glue cleaned off. I don't camo anything now unless the bow has white limbs.
Title: Re: Camoing your bow?
Post by: Snow Crow on July 06, 2016, 08:51:00 PM
Mr Stokes,  Try Goo-Gone or other citrus oil based product for removal of adhesive residue.
Title: Re: Camoing your bow?
Post by: Charlie Lamb on July 06, 2016, 09:07:00 PM
I always just used any cheap spray paint. They usually remove easily with lacquer thinner...
   (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/charlie/Bowincorncamo.jpg)
Title: Re: Camoing your bow?
Post by: wooddamon1 on July 06, 2016, 11:29:00 PM
Same as Charlie:

  (http://i1121.photobucket.com/albums/l502/MrDwood/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-03/20160312_183126_zpsumafwob2.jpg) (http://s1121.photobucket.com/user/MrDwood/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-03/20160312_183126_zpsumafwob2.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Camoing your bow?
Post by: bunyan on July 06, 2016, 11:36:00 PM
Charlie, at least now your bow matches your arrows! I figure if its good enough for Mr. Lamb its worth considering!
Title: Re: Camoing your bow?
Post by: Charlie Lamb on July 07, 2016, 08:59:00 AM
I'm always more worried about the shine than the color scheme, but since I was at it I figured why not.
Helps keep me busy.   ;)
Title: Re: Camoing your bow?
Post by: abbatoys on July 07, 2016, 10:30:00 AM
Nice basic camo jobs there..
Title: Re: Camoing your bow?
Post by: Don Stokes on July 07, 2016, 04:20:00 PM
Thank you, Snow Crow.

I will humbly suggest that anything other than a coat of paint added to the limbs is likely to have an effect on performance. Every bit of weight added to the bow or the string results in energy lost in inertia that otherwise would go into the arrow.
Title: Re: Camoing your bow?
Post by: rainman on July 07, 2016, 08:12:00 PM
Don Stokes, WD40 works well for removing old tape glue also.
Title: Re: Camoing your bow?
Post by: Don Stokes on July 08, 2016, 10:48:00 AM
Good idea, rainman. I should have thought of that. It's a great solvent.
Title: Re: Camoing your bow?
Post by: Mike Faith on July 08, 2016, 03:40:00 PM
I have found that lightly washing any shiny surface, whether factory bow finish, spray paint or leather, with 91% rubbing alcohol will dull the  
shine, just go easy with it.
Title: Re: Camoing your bow?
Post by: Thumper Dunker on July 10, 2016, 01:14:00 AM
Quote
Originally posted by bunyan:
Charlie, at least now your bow matches your arrows! I figure if its good enough for Mr. Lamb its worth considering!
Same here also. Now days just hit them with a flat or satin clear coat. I really think shiny stuff scares animals.