Got a solid black bow, it's an awesome hunting machine, with a metal riser. I've looked at camo dipping, and stuff like the camo vinyl but I'm thinking about painting it.

If I paint it, wont the paint flake off the limbs from all the flexing and shooting?

Will I have to sand it or prime it?

What do you guys think?

I just did. You can see pics of my Quinn Stallion on here(Camoflauge Quinn Stallion). I like the way it looks. Only time will tell how well it holds up.

My DAS limbs are flat black.  I had Dave paint them using a special industrial paint/coating he uses.  The riser is flat black also which is coated that way with a special process.

As far as stealth goes nothing beats flat black just ask our military.  Camo on a bow is more eye candy for the owner.

Mike, Russ is our military. He is posting from Iraq.

Russ I have the same bow brand as you and hunt mine just the way they came and haven't been busted yet. Of course Texas where you hunt may not have as many shadows to hunt from.

I would paint my bow, and I have painted my bow. In fact, my SAV Black Widow recurve is painted.  If you use a good quality paint, chipping and flaking is not an issue.

I perfer flat base primers, they come in a variety of colors now.  Make sure the bow is clean, use alcohol, and use a light base coat.

They you can use the darker paint for stripes that will mimic shadows when completed.  Then use your flat black spray.  I like to use leaves, or ferns.  This makes a neat pattern...

I've painted one or two in my time.  Prep work makes the paint job.  Clean the bow really well with denatured alcohol.  The use a good quality primer.  After the primer, use a good quality flat spray paint and do multiple thin coats.  I've even put a coat or two of matte polyurethane over the paint for a little extra durability, though it's probably not needed.

Russ,  I think Tippet here on TG actually waxes his bow and then sprays a camo on them. That way if you wont it off it comes off fairly easy so it isntr permenant. Maybe he will chime in on how he does it.

Cloth camo tape.

I paint my bows.  Yes, after a while the paint flecks off.  Doesn't seem to hurt anything.  I just add more when I need to.  I want my bow camo  not necessarily a wall hanger.
ChuckC

I  spray painted my Qiunn Stallion two years ago and it hasn't flaked or peeled yet.

I just spray them with camo paint.When the paint wears I just hit them another shot or two.  

Years ago all bows came with a gloss finish. I used a Martin camo paint that came as a kit. The kit had 3 or 4 cans of paint in camo colors and a sheet of stencils to use. When season was over I used mineral sprits to remove paint and applied a coat or 2 of auto wax. That is because I like the gloss finish on a bow or firearm. I still compare finishs to the finish of a Browning or Weatherby rifle or shotgun. Guess I am "old school" or just plain old.

Russ- I recently had a few bows camo dipped. The people who did it did a less than perfect job, but even so, they still look good. We will soon be getting into that business we like the camo finishso much.

Yes ... but it's much more fun to paint my wife!

Russ,                                           We build a recurve we call, The Mountain Bow.It has a painted camo finish that holds up good in most conditions.Like already mentioned the nice thing about it is easy to cover a scratch with flat paint.You can see the Mountain Bow on our website;www.legendsbows.com.
Mike

NO, I got home in 69 from the service and dad gave me a brand new Bear Kodiak Hunter.  A left over from his archery shop that he closed while I was gone.  The two dumbest things I did to that bow was to paint it flat green and drill two holes in the side for a kwikee kwiver.  Now I can't get the paint off.  There are many bow covers out there  to use.  I would try one of those first.

NEVER EVER,for love nor money.....well wait a mintue,I will paint yours for money.Bowyers spend countless hours makeing thier art work look beautiful.... and then we bomb can it flat black....Never...bowdoc

On black limbs, I have used a removable paint made by Hunters Specialties. It comes off easily with their remover spray and a cloth.

Sinners...LMAO
I want to respond but I'm really confused ??    
why????
Are you guys buying used bows for hunting that lQQk SO ugly enough to paint or painting a new bow that you spec'd a certain type of finish that's SO ugly and should be painted?          
Why not just add on laminated skins from one of our sponsors? Maybe some think there's no difference, but it accomplished two things. Keeps and possibly adds value and dulls finish.
   

Just rethinking this whole painting of the bows.

Maybe I just don't own enough yet?