Recently, I learned I should be waxing my bows. How did I not know this? Anyway, they're all waxed and ready for spring turkey season and summer 3-D's. They sure are purdy now!
We need to wax them? :confused: I never knew that. what kind of wax do you use?
Some people use butcher's wax, Johnson paste wax or other wax variations. I used Trewax, clear paste, Carnauba wax. It really cleaned them up. If you search this subject on TG, you can find some threads on it.
Maybe some folks do....but I've never heard of doing this except for some selfbow finishes.
Why in the world would you need to wax a laminated bow? :dunno:
I don't know. I guess just to shine up the glass or when hunting with a gloss finish, you can use the wax to dull the shine by applying it without rubbing it to a shine. How about the sides of the longbow handle where there is no glass? I noticed it helped to make light scratches less noticeable.
To protect the finish from harsh weather. Just like you would wax a car, truck or motorcycle. Can't hurt........
QuoteOriginally posted by ron w:
To protect the finish from harsh weather. Just like you would wax a car, truck or motorcycle. Can't hurt........
Good point. Why do we wax vehicles? They have clear coat, but we wax them too.
Now you're waxing eloquent! :bigsmyl:
QuoteOriginally posted by Archie:
Now you're waxing eloquent! :bigsmyl:
:biglaugh: good one, Roman! Lol!
I've been making strings, so now I've got string wax every where. So I'm wondering how to get it off my bow! Any suggestions?
Yeah, I guess that makes sense... I was picturing more along the lines of thick, ugly paraffin wax....
So you'll just rub it on and buff it off like a car?
I've always just trusted the finish on my bows and have never had a problem.
QuoteOriginally posted by Guru:
Yeah, I guess that makes sense... I was picturing more along the lines of thick, ugly paraffin wax....
So you'll just rub it on and buff it off like a car?
I've always just trusted the finish on my bows and have never had a problem.
I know what you mean, Curt. I trusted my glass coating too. When I waxed and shined it, it really made a difference. Even the nock grooves, which can get gooey from bow string wax and debris, cleaned up nicely.
I did mine by accident last fall, waxed my string with string wax, for some reason I got it all over my bow, trying to get it off I rubbed it in (looked good)and ended up doing the rest it looked great, made the grain in the wood really pop, filled in some of the imperfections and a few dents it has got over the years, I will be doing it at least once a year now. seems to take the squeak out of the bow in cold weather too.
I have been using carnauba wax on my bows for years. It forms a waterproof barrier and cleans the finish. My bows have all sorts of minor battle scars ;) and it protects the wood.
where do we get this wax? Or should we just use the wax we use for our strings.
Just looking at Black Widow's catalog.....they sell a product called Widow Wax. Who knew....lol!
I bought mine at the ACE hardware store.
I don't know if this is good or not,but it makes them look good and there's no build up. I use a light coat of Pledge every now and then.
Buddy of mine waxes his bows. I never gave it much thought, but after reading this thread I am gonna give it a try.
I always wax mine. If I sell them I wax them heavily and send them out that way. I learned from herb Meland. All the reasons mentioned plus it "feeds the wood"
Johnson's paste wax. Home depot
I use beeswax that you can buy in somthing that looks like a shampoo bottle. It is made to protect bows and polishes em good too!
I use BriWax (carnuba and beeswax) and leave it dabbed on thick during the hunting season to cut glare. In the spring I buff it shiney with a cotton rag. Fills scratches, too.
I use Rustic Pine on my lighter bows and black (Ebony) on my dark ones.
http://www.briwaxwoodcare.com/?gclid=CLze4tTj47wCFUcaOgodWgwA_w
I have been using this product for a few years cleans waxes and feeds the wood.
http://www.howardproducts.com/prod-feed-n-wax.php
Pat
I wax my bows too. I use turtle wax and buff them out .
I also wax my wood arrows
Watch out when you wax the hand grip area, it could cause some slipperiness you may not be ready for when the turkey comes into range.
ChuckC
I've done this BUT watch out on recurve , when I was useing a bow stringer with the rubber wedge it would not stick to the limb. Sure made a challenge to get the string off.
QuoteOriginally posted by oldgoat:
I've done this BUT watch out on recurve , when I was useing a bow stringer with the rubber wedge it would not stick to the limb. Sure made a challenge to get the string off.
Good observation. With the Selway Stringer I use you have to keep a firm thumb pressure towards the limb tip on the "slider" end of the stringer or it will come in fast. But then you're supposed to anyway.
I use Butchers Wax. I started using it on my home made bows, and carried it over to all my bows. I feel a little better about getting the bow wet with the wax on it.
Is it necessary? I don't know, but like someone said earlier 'it can't hurt'
I only wax or seal my selfbows.....unless you have hunted with DEET on hands and it ate away your finish on your glass backed bows riser or limbs...not sure why you would need to wax them as it is not likely to wear out for years and years under normal use.
I just trust the finish on bows unless I have reason to believe otherwise....and only had to do it once in 20+ years and it was directly related to bug juice on hands and face eating finish. Sanded and resprayed with varathane....
I dont want my bows too shiny or too slippery.... LOL
I never heard if it till I got a minor chip in my riser and was told that wax would fill it in and protect bow! I use Johnson
Take care of your equipment and it will take care of you. A little wax, applied with care, will do nothing but protect and add to the value of your bow. My bud, "Ric O'Shay", purchased a bow off this site a few months back. When it arrived at his home he did a quick double take. Before long, and with very little effort, the bow looked like new. The previous owner was shocked when he saw it on a recent post. Now its hanging on my buds rack and I drool over it every time I enter his man cave. Every time I go over there I come away a little lighter in the pocket. Ha! Ha!
Does it give off an odor that could warn a deer?
I only wax my bow if I'm going to spray paint it. I spray paint over wax that hasn't been rubbed out. The paint sticks to the wax but not the bow. With a little heat, the paint will just rub off leaving the original pristine finish on my bows...tippit
QuoteOriginally posted by awbowman:
Does it give off an odor that could warn a deer?
I didn't notice any appreciable odor at all.
QuoteOriginally posted by tippit:
I only wax my bow if I'm going to spray paint it. I spray paint over wax that hasn't been rubbed out. The paint sticks to the wax but not the bow. With a little heat, the paint will just rub off leaving the original pristine finish on my bows...tippit
What kind of spray paint do you use? I would feel sick and nervous spraying my bow with paint. :eek:
I wax both my selfbows and fiberglass bows once or twice a yr. My reasoning is that with normal use you can get dings in the finish and wax helps to keep any of these dings sealed from moisture. I use johnsons paste wax.
Dennis,
I use regular spray paint in light puffs not completely covering the limbs just to add a shadow like appearance. If you hit with too much paint it will be shiny just a mist from a distance. It doesn't make any difference what paint you use as it is only sticking to a layer of wax. Just make sure to wax the limbs well and don't buff off. By using a hair dryer on the low setting, the wax softens and is easy to rub off with paper towels...tippit
Light tan puffs in a shadow like pattern over waxed black glass to take shine off limbs...
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v110/tippit/MorrisonSprayedFoamCoreLimbs002.jpg)
Dean Torges uses just paraffin for a finish on some of his hunting selfbows. It really protects and is easy to touch up in the field...tippit
yeah understand selfbows completely...do it myself. just never worried about with my glass bows