New 48" Stalker

[scrub-buster]

I'm a selfbow guy but this fall a couple of recurve bows have caught my eye.  I've been hunting with my late uncles DH Balboa.  I like the way it shoots.  Yesterday I traded for an Indian Archery 48" Stalker.  I loved the lines of this bow from the moment I saw it.  I'm tossing ideas around on building a sinew backed osage selfbow with the same shape.

Its in good shape.  There are some cracks in the finish.  How hard would it be to sand it all off and put a new finish on it?

[D. Key]

That is a beauty.  Take some 200 grit sandpaper and lightly sand the entire bow.  I use Deft Polyurethane in a Satin finish and apply 3-4 light coats lightly sanding in between.  Hand the bow from a light weight thread from an elevated, well ventilated position and spray away.

Best of luck.

[monterey]

Those are chrysals, which you are surely familiar with as a self bow guy.  They probably won't sand out.  Since they are the result of that section of the limb doing more than it's share of the work, sanding them would further weaken the limb and would be detrimental.  

I have a short static recurve with the same problem but I continue to shoot it.  Suppose it could fail.  This bow has continuously dropped in poundage since I acquired it.  Might indicate a gradual breaking down of the limbs in that area.

[cacciatore]

I have a Mohawk 261-52". They are sone nice looking bows.

[galadriel]

You stole my bow!! Just kidding. I have that exact bow too and find it very useful in thick cover or perhaps in a tree.. Mine has crackling in the same spots and has never given me problems..

[scrub-buster]

The cracks feel like they are in the finish.  I only draw 26" on a good day so I don't think I'll do any more damage to the bow by shooting it.  I might see how it shoots for me before I decide what to do on sanding it down.

[monterey]

If you do sand It, sand the entire limb(s) equally otherwise you risk weakening the arey of the cracks which could cause more problems.

I'd sure shoot it too.  Heck what is more useless than an idle unshot bow?

[DannyBows]

That bow looks sweet! Congrats, nice score.