I think this may have been discussed before, but I did a search and couldn't find anything.  I have a new bow which I love, but I don't like the white paint-marker writing on it.  

Fortunately the writing is clearly on top of the finish, not underneath.  What's the best way to remove this writing without dissolving the finish?

I use steel wool over the area and then respray with deft.  Works pretty good
Nate

I am having a bow made right now. I asked the bowyer not to put any writing where it is visible. This is the second bow I've done this on.

I just don't get it. Why desecrate the beauty of what these bowyers do. What it reminds me of is graffiti on a natural bridge.

My 2 cents.

TJ

Light sanding with 220, then 320 grit paper.  Use a small block so you don't create a depression where the writing is. Then Deft or Helmsman spray urathane. Steel wool works, too, as Nate points out, but tends to leave tiny metal flecks if you don't wipe it off real well.

I'm with TJ. In addition, quality speaks for itself and unless someone is paying me to advertise I don't want it on my bow . Mark it yes, but do it tastefully.

The writing is OVER the finish, not UNDER it.   Surely I don't have to sand and re-finish!  Has anyone tried a solvent that will take off the paint marker and not damage the finish?

I sanded a name off a bow I bought, and had to sand right down to the bare wood before the name came off.  Believe me, I didn't want to do that, but once I started, I was kind of committed, since it would have looked worse if I had stopped when the name was halfway sanded out.

Anyway, it left me with a light spot where the name was.  I refinished over it, and the new finish blended in fine with the old finish, except for the light spot.

I would have to refinish the whole riser now to make it any better, and I wouldn't try to do that myself.  I could send it back to the bowyer to refinish, but it's really not that big a deal and I guess I'll just live with it.  I like the light spot better than I did the name, so I guess I'm not sorry I did it.

I'd try rubbing alcohol first as it is the least aggresive.

It would be unusual for it to be on top of the finish without at least a coat or two of finish over the top.  But if that is indeed the case, try denatured alcohol or fingernail polish remover.

Try denatured alcohol is less agressive for the finish,the fingernail polish remover contain acetone,this can erase the writing and the vernish also,go very slowly with acetone

Most bowyers put a coat or two of finish under the writing to keep it from "bleeding" then a coat or two over.  I've had good success with a cabinet scraper.  If you are careful you can remove just the finish over the writing and clean it up with denatured alcohol.  This leaves some original finish on the spot to maintain the original wood color.  I like to replace the removed finish with thin "super glue".  It builds up nicely and levels well.  Just my $.02

Some people like to put names on there bows.  Art young and Saxton Pope to name a few.

The last new bow I bought had the writing on top of the finish, looked like a Sharpie pen. I got it off with alcohol and a paper towel.

I put the legend that I wanted on it with (sorry!) a white ink and brush, and threw some Krylon clear matte finish over it to protect it.

Maybe you will luck out like that. Try the denatured alcohol and a towel, or move up to a Scotch-Brite for a little abrasive action.

Killdeer

Well, you guys are right: it didn't feel like it, but on closer inspection there is finish over the writing.  Drat!  

I like your cabinet scraper idea, olderndirt. I have cabinet scrapers, and have used them often for other projects.  I think I'll try that.

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone!

Good luck, NCHunter. I don't understand white writing on a bow. Black, or gold, is another thing...but white is, IMO, just ugly. The most expensive bow I own cost nearly $2000 new, is made of macassar ebony, and has garish white writing on it...yuck! Even red would look better. I like to be able to see who made the bow and its specs...and it's cool to have my name on them...but not in WHITE! JMO

I'm with ya!  Gold is good: it's there if you want to read it, but it fades into the background and doesn't detract.