Does anyone have a really good bow camo tutorial? PICS ADDED P. 2

TxAg · June 23, 2014, 09:26:00 PM

I did a bow the other day, and it turned out ok. Now I want to paint another one .....and I want it to look really nice. I know that's not the purpose of the camo, but it's the off season and I need something to keep me busy.

The bow is carbon and dymondwood so i won't be hurting the looks any. It's a heck of a performer, though.

PaulDeadringer29 · June 23, 2014, 10:14:00 PM

There was a article in a recent issue of F&S on how to camo gun stocks. I'm sure you could use it for bows, or anything else.

dhermon85 · June 23, 2014, 11:32:00 PM

Back away from the spray paint...

just_a_hunter · June 24, 2014, 12:58:00 AM

You can make a bow look good with spray paint if done correctly. A guy a few years ago done a tutorial here but I cannot find it but the method works great. I have camo'd other things I cannot post here as well as one bow riser and they do look great.

You can't see it very well but I'll post anyway.

PM sent to TxAg.

Todd

just_a_hunter · June 24, 2014, 01:05:00 AM

This isn't the tutorial I'm talking about but the method used is the same and I think the bow looks great.

Here is the thread.

and pictures of the bow in the above thread.

Todd

4dogs · June 24, 2014, 11:07:00 AM

Fine looking dog there Todd.

June 24, 2014, 11:20:00 AM

What are painting now, Jeff?

Bisch

nineworlds9 · June 24, 2014, 11:33:00 AM

My guess is a Centaur :D

Caughtandhobble · June 24, 2014, 01:24:00 PM

Have you thought about "Mother Nature's" camo? I love the look of snake skins, IMO there not a better camo for a bow.

J. Holden · June 24, 2014, 02:06:00 PM

Don't have access to any pics of my bow while at work. But I recently did a longbow I had. I can list my steps:

- Sanded with 150 grit sandpaper. Not too heavy, but enough to smooth a few dings.

- Primed it with flat black spray paint, Krylon I believe. Two coats.

- Took a maple leaf off a tree in the yard and used that next. Sprayed a blotch here and there over the length off the bow. Using the leaf as a template. I used a flat gray Krylon again.

- Took a small cedar branch from another tree in my yard and did the same thing, sprayed here and there with the branch as my template. This time using a light tan color.

- Finished with 3 coats of flat, spray, polyurethane. Reattached my grip and rug and it looks great!

I can try and get some pics of the finished product if interested. Good luck and just think it out ahead of time.

-Jeremy

Kelly · June 24, 2014, 03:40:00 PM

Glass frost finish sprayed on with dull the shine yet one can see the colors. It is easily removed, too.

TxAg · June 24, 2014, 09:28:00 PM

QuoteOriginally posted by Caughtandhobble:
Have you thought about "Mother Nature's" camo? I love the look of snake skins, IMO there not a better camo for a bow.

Then I might be afraid to pick it up

TxAg · June 24, 2014, 09:33:00 PM

QuoteOriginally posted by Bisch:
What are painting now, Jeff?

Bisch

Chuck is right. A Centaur. I like the black carbon, but I'm not a big fan of Dymondwood. I didn't mind, though, because it was a stock bow and saved me a year's wait. I almost sold the bow, but then I got used to the grip and now I loooove it (shout out to Jim!).

Anyways....all that to say I think I decided to tape the limbs off and just spray the riser some camo design. I'll be sure to post pics.

M60gunner · June 24, 2014, 09:39:00 PM

I got bit by the camo bow bug years ago. I went with a kit that was offered, had a few cans of paint a stencils. I choose this because it was easy to remove after season.
Unless you plan on keeping bow forever I would not use any thing that is not reversible. The paint job could lower the bows value.
Oh yes, I ruined a set of limbs trying to take off latex house paint that was used for camo. Had to have whole bow refinished.

D. Key · June 25, 2014, 10:21:00 AM

Jeff:

Take a base coat color (Beige, Green, Brown or Black). Once it is cured take some plastic fern leaves you buy at Wally World. Hold the fern on the bow and spray another color on the fern. Do that all over the bow with 3 colors and you will have a very camo'd bow. My buddy actually did this with his Jeep and it looked great. I also painted an old Pearson Predator with this method several years ago and it turned out awesome.

tippit · June 25, 2014, 10:48:00 AM

Simplify...

1) Wax your bow & Don't rub it off.
2) Light puffs of spray paint like shadow
3) Remove the paint any time with hair dryer by rubbing off with paper towel. You never know when you might want to re-sell the bow in original condition.

Are you trying to camo the bow for you to look at & enjoy or just to blend in with the shadows...both good reasons. In fact doing nothing is also a good option as I feel the bow limbs are so small in comparison to your blocky appearance that they are insignificant unless shiny. JMHO...tippit

TxAg · June 25, 2014, 11:06:00 AM

^^^ mostly for me to look at

wooddamon1 · June 25, 2014, 05:14:00 PM

I used some satin grey, tan and green in diagonal swipes for contrast. Thinking about taking a small brush and some flat black to make some jagged lines through it all just to make it cooler for me to look at. I used Rust-oleum Ultra Cover I found on sale at K-mart for $1.50 a pop. It works on wood, metal or plastic so with the leftover you can paint a couple stands or whatever...

PaulDeadringer29 · June 25, 2014, 05:21:00 PM

Hey Damon, is that a Super Grizzly under that camo? How is the paint holding up on the leather hood of that Great Northern quiver? Looks cool.

wooddamon1 · June 25, 2014, 05:36:00 PM

Yeppers, Paul. Sprayed it for turkey season and to kinda protect it from further scratches and dings until I can refinish it properly.

The paint is holding up great on the whole deal, no tackiness, even on the gripper. I was a little worried about it, but it's working out fine.

Thanks!