Removing outside veneers?

Orion · June 02, 2014, 01:29:00 PM

OK, I've removed snakeskin's from glass laminated bows. Not much of a problem. Just slide a razor blade under the skin and shave off. Lightly sand and refinish.

Has anyone ever tried removing veneers that are glued over the glass or carbon on laminated bow limbs? I would assume the process would be much the same. On the other hand, maybe the thin wood veneers wouldn't come off as easily. Not interested in saving the veneers; just getting them off without damaging the glass or carbon underneath.

rmorris · June 02, 2014, 01:48:00 PM

My thoughts would be sanding them off or possibly a solvent.

wingnut · June 02, 2014, 02:06:00 PM

I've never heard of veneers that are outside the glass. They are under the glass.

Mike

Sixby · June 02, 2014, 04:16:00 PM

Only bow I know of with veneers outside of the glass is Habu. Why in the world would you remove them?

God bless, Steve

Orion · June 02, 2014, 04:18:00 PM

Mike: Shouldn't have used glass as an example. I meant carbon. Am considering a set of Morrison carbon/foam limbs. Haven't seen them in person, but they have veneers. Are they constructed with veneers over the carbon and glass over that. I thought in this case, the veneers were glued directly onto the carbon.

Orion · June 02, 2014, 04:26:00 PM

Sixby: Hard to believe, but there are some veneers that are just too lively for me. Too much swirly grain and color contrast, particularly when on both back and belly of the limbs. By comparison, I like plain old black glass or carbon better.

June 02, 2014, 04:43:00 PM

Seems that someone else putting veneers over glass a number of years ago for short time. It probably had problems. Speaking of problems, how difficult would it be to get the glass separated from the the veneer without splintering it and then back on the carbon? There could be a radical change in tiller and draw weight. If it is that foam carbon core, I wonder if it would be easier just build a set of limbs from scratch.

stabow · June 02, 2014, 05:10:00 PM

You could put it in a hot box and just undo the whole limb or bow.

Orion · June 02, 2014, 05:27:00 PM

Pavan, if it's veneers and not laminations (some folks call the outside laminations veneers; laminations are much thicker) the tiller or draws weight shouldn't be affected much if at all. I expect the veneers would splinter/be destroyed in their removal. That would be OK with me. Wouldn't want to put them on another bow anyway.

If they can't be removed without damaging the underlying carbon, then my decision is to buy them and learn to live with them or look for a different set more visually appealing to me.

A fella could have worse problems. Just trying to "look before I leap."

Danny Rowan · June 02, 2014, 05:37:00 PM

If you do not want veneers, why not order limbs without veneers, seems easier to me.

Orion · June 02, 2014, 05:49:00 PM

Danny: I'm looking at a used set of limbs. If I ordered new, I would order them the way I want. Easier to order new, true, but about twice as expensive.

calgarychef · June 02, 2014, 06:00:00 PM

Just paint them

wingnut · June 02, 2014, 06:00:00 PM

With the glues we use these days you are not going to get the veneers off without damaging the carbon underneath. If you don't like the look, pass and find another pair that you do like.

Mike

Orion · June 02, 2014, 06:03:00 PM

That's what I thought. Thanks for the info.

Sixby · June 02, 2014, 07:15:00 PM

Orion., Paint them, No problem there Bro. Just paint them flat black and then shoot some Helmsman over the paint.

If you want you can use some cedar branches as stensils and paint a dark color base and then shoot some lighter shades over the cedar which leaves the imprint of the cedar on the back.

I have done some really nice three toned camo jobs on bows in the past.

When finished just super lightly sand and shoot a couple of coats of Helmsman over the limb. Done deal and you got a nice hunting bow.

flyne · June 02, 2014, 07:46:00 PM

Or you could get a set or limanations and just cover them

Robertfishes · June 02, 2014, 09:08:00 PM

I once refinished a Ramhunter longbow that had flat cut red elm veneers over the fiberglass.. They were very thin, maybe 0.015 thick? I would leave them on over the carbon. If you lift a splinter of carbon removing them then you might have a big problem

Orion · June 02, 2014, 09:14:00 PM

Agreed, Robert. As Sixby points out, painting them is an option. Doesn't add much weight, easy to do. Think I may have found a solution.

JRY309 · June 02, 2014, 11:59:00 PM

My Zipper has the wood veneers over the carbon foam limbs.I think it would be very difficult to remove them without causing damage to the carbon.The glue for veneers is a lot stronger then the glue most snakeskins are put on with.

**DONOTDELETE** · June 03, 2014, 01:43:00 AM

Rattle can baby! Rattle can that dude. LOL

or you could do some air brush flames like this one.