Removing name from Limb

batangx · April 06, 2011, 10:19:00 PM

I just got my used Wes Wallace in the mail today and it's a great bow.

Only problem, it has the previous owners name on the limb.

Whats the best way to remove the name? Looks like the name was written with white paint with a very fine paint brush? They type they use for cresting arrows.

Any one here have any suggestions?

Thanks

LKH · April 06, 2011, 10:50:00 PM

It's almost impossible without affecting the surrounding finish and then you need to patch/redo that area. Find out what the current finish is before you start.

You will have to sand/scrape the name off. Acetone and other chemical strippers are a bad idea.

Night Wing · April 07, 2011, 06:29:00 AM

When I order a bow now, I don't put my name on it anymore just in case I end up selling it. My first custom bows, a recurve and a hybrid longbow did have my name on them and I ended up selling them.

Bobby Urban · April 07, 2011, 06:38:00 AM

Just my opinion but I think you should leave it. The original name is part of the bow and part of it's mojo. I find it fun to do the research and get the history of used bows I have purchased and in most cases the name is the best/only way to track them. I owned a Great Northern Bamboo longbow that was one of two made that had been owned by many and hunted all over the country as well as the world. It was one of the first 80 bows they sold and a piece of modern traditional history. I just think it best to leave it.

Besides, you never know who the next "Fred Bear" may be and who would feel good about sanding his name off a bow back in the day? Leave it there and thank the man who had it built when you shoot well or take game with the bow.

Bob Urban

Javi · April 07, 2011, 07:13:00 AM

QuoteOriginally posted by Bobby Urban:
Just my opinion but I think you should leave it. The original name is part of the bow and part of it's mojo. I find it fun to do the research and get the history of used bows I have purchased and in most cases the name is the best/only way to track them. I owned a Great Northern Bamboo longbow that was one of two made that had been owned by many and hunted all over the country as well as the world. It was one of the first 80 bows they sold and a piece of modern traditional history. I just think it best to leave it.

Besides, you never know who the next "Fred Bear" may be and who would feel good about sanding his name off a bow back in the day? Leave it there and thank the man who had it built when you shoot well or take game with the bow.

Bob Urban

Well said Bob....

Exactly how I feel about it.. It's part of the history of the bow.. I have a couple with someone else's name on them. To me it adds character and I usually end up calling the bow by that name..

frank bullitt · April 07, 2011, 12:02:00 PM

If your going to remove, I would tape around the area, and use fine steel wool, and elbow grease.

Then cover the area with a finish, like poly, tru-oil, even super glue.

snag · April 07, 2011, 12:06:00 PM

...and from the other side of the fence...take that name off. It's your bow. A bow's past is not your present with it. If it was Fred Bear's name or someone you knew and it had a value to you then I could see it.
Call the bowyer and ask him how it is best to remove it.

bsoper · April 07, 2011, 12:38:00 PM

I would take it off only if you spoke with the manufacturer and they told you how. I wouldn't want to risk damaging the bow by doing it any other way. You could always just cover it up with a smiley face sticker

njloco · April 07, 2011, 12:42:00 PM

I'm with Bobby, I have a Palmer recurve I purchased used from another Tradganger, and he also purchased it used, I'm leaving the history on it as it shoots fine, and the name doesn't get in my way.

kat · April 07, 2011, 01:59:00 PM

FROM A PREVIOUS THREAD
Using a sharp knife blade like a scraper takes the finish and the writing off "zip."
If you haven't used a scraper;the blade is held perpendicular to the surface, with just
a tiny bit of lean-back...with finger from each hand holding the blade...scrape the
sharp edge like a cat scratching on just the spot you want clean. We used scrapers
to final finish all our Bighorn bows...it's a little remembered tool for a wonderful
finish... It does a neat job and leaves a smooth surface. It'll take about 2 minutes
and you can only touch the exact area you want to clean off. Sanding takes forever,
leaves gouges, and you end up with needing to refinish the whole side of the riser. gfa

BWD · April 08, 2011, 12:24:00 PM

Just leave it on there. That way you will have somebody to talk to.

Mack Marine · April 08, 2011, 08:31:00 PM

Leave it... Who will notice the name, no effect on the bow.

richbat · April 09, 2011, 12:34:00 PM

I was stuck with this problem also but in the long run i just decided to leave well enough alone and left the name on the bow,the name is like stated above part of the bows history and you just never know when that person might become famous.

Buckhorn47 · April 09, 2011, 06:24:00 PM

Bows all need to keep their history - a simple reminder of where that bow has been and you are now honoured to share it.

Bigriver · April 09, 2011, 08:06:00 PM

Wes uses deft finish satin on most of his bows. So easy to remove the name,even a caveman can do it. Take some 220 sandpaper and lightly sand off the name. Tape over the specs if they are close and you want to save them. Feather the area lightly with the paper, wipe it off with a clean rag and spray a few coats of deft spray can satin int/ext varnsish over the area. You can get it at most hardware stores, fleet farm etc. It is really a simple process,I have done it numerous times.

BOWMARKS · April 09, 2011, 09:41:00 PM

Leave the name on the bow that way when that very rare lousy shot happens you have someone else to blame it on!!

Builder · April 10, 2011, 08:48:00 AM

There is no way to take it off and not make it look far worse than if you leave it. You can try to "touch it up" but it will look bad and also compromise the rest of the finish for moisture.
I could care less about a name on a bow, however I would never buy a bow where someone tried to take the name off and messed with the finish.

Bigriver · April 10, 2011, 11:07:00 AM

Builder, the satin finish on the wes wallce bows touches up quite well. It wont be compromised for moisture, just use the same finish that is on the bow in the first place. The spray deft works really well, I have used it numerous times with great results. I have finished around 50 bows,I have been a professional woodwork fisnisher for 30 years, so I do know a little of what advice I gave. I just aint that hard to make it look good.

batangx · April 13, 2011, 09:55:00 AM

Well this past weekend I went for it and I was successful. First off, thanks you to everyone's response and suggestions.

Second I was able to contact Wes and he pretty much told me what to do and how.

It came out pretty damn sweet. I pretty much taped the surrounding area where I didn't want the sandpaper to touch and went to work. Nothing like a little elbow grease and time to get things done. I would say it took about 30 mins using 320 grit sandpaper. Now all i have to do is spray on the the polyurethane and I good to go.

I would post pics but don't know how. But here is a link to another forum where I posted pics:
http://www.archerytalk.com/vb/showthread.php?t=1465764

sagebrush · April 14, 2011, 12:18:00 AM

Hahahahahaha, I have a friend who hated a name on his bow, so he borrowed some spot remover from me. Only problem is, this is very powerful stuff. It was made in the eighties. He put the bow in his bathtub to keep from spilling. He poured the stuff on the name and wiped. It took off every bit of finish on the bow. It also took off every bit of finish off of the bathtub. Right down to the fiberglass. 'Course this was on a compound so no big loss. This was a signature bow (PSE) and the name was on his limb. Gary