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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: musokie on April 23, 2009, 02:02:00 AM

Title: Finishs for osage bow
Post by: musokie on April 23, 2009, 02:02:00 AM

What suggestions as far as finishs for my first  osage bow.  I would like to keep the light natural color but want to protect the wood.  I know it will darken with time.

Title: Re: Finishs for osage bow
Post by: kodiakkid on April 23, 2009, 06:28:00 AM

Tru oil

Title: Re: Finishs for osage bow
Post by: DCM on April 23, 2009, 09:09:00 AM

If you want to keep it light, pick something with big UV protection.

I find wipe on poly easy to apply and as effective as anything.  

An outdoor spar w/ big UV might be better, but spar tends to darken on it's own.

For best protection, use lots of thin coats, light sand in between and then after it's cured a couple weeks follow up with a heavy wax.

Title: Re: Finishs for osage bow
Post by: Eric Krewson on April 23, 2009, 09:12:00 AM

For my personal bows I use epoxy-acetone (1 part two ton epoxy, 5 parts acetone) wiped on with a small piece of rag. This is the toughest finish out there. It takes 6 or 8 applications to get good coverage.

After I letter a bow I put 3 or 4 coats of tru oil over the lettering to keep it in place. The acetone in EA will wipe off the lettering.

I use tru-oil on most of bows I make followed with a misting of satin spar urethane to give them a dull finish.

Title: Re: Finishs for osage bow
Post by: musokie on April 24, 2009, 01:17:00 AM

Thanks for the help

Title: Re: Finishs for osage bow
Post by: shamus on April 24, 2009, 07:15:00 AM

A urethane with UV inhibitors will slow the darkening process, but exposure to light will eventually darken osage.

more thoughts of mine on finishes:  http://analogperiphery.blogspot.com/2009/02/selfbow-finishes.html

Title: Re: Finishs for osage bow
Post by: elkslayer on April 25, 2009, 12:16:00 PM

TRU OIL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!