Taking the shine off from a bow's finish

[ghost rob]

I just picked up a Widow PCHX on the site here and I absolutely love it. The only thing I'm not liking is that the finish is quite shiny. It's not a gloss finish but it looks like it might have been polished. This is on the limbs only. I'm thinking of sanding it lightly and shooting a flat coat on it but I wondered if I might have other options to tone it down. Anyone have some advice?

[southpawshooter]

No need to sand.  Get something like Johnsons Paste Wax, rub it on but don't buff it out.  Puts a nice haze on the bow.  At the end of the season rub it off and enjoy your glossy finish.

[Bjorn]

I spray on a dull coat from a far back and it does not reflect at all.
Otherwise I ask the bowyer to put on a dull finish.

[Benjy]

You can rub the limbs down with steel wool or sand with 1000 grit sand paper. They will have a dull satin finish when you're done.

[buckracks7]

String wax for the riser and camo bow socks for the limbs.

[YORNOC]

What these guys said. Easy to dull up a gloss finish and still have it look great. Combo of steel wool 0000 and butchers paste wax for me. But I've used 1000+ grit wet sandpaper with great results also.
Many finishes are not compatible with each other. I've seen bows that initially look great end up a sticky mess when in the woods weeks later.

[jsweka]

Wow Rob...Shooting a Widow again.  What about that last longbow you made?

[JimB]

Get some of Birchwood Casey's Stock Sheen or Brownell's "Original" Stock Rubbing Compound.That is what they are made for.Sanding and even steel wool can leave fine scratches and unevenness.Stock rubbing compounds are used as the final process to blend hand rubbed finishes and give the degree of dullness or sheen desired.Those mentioned are for a duller finish.Rubbing compounds produce a very even look with very little effort.Just rub the bow down with some compound on a felt pad,then wipe off and you are done.You don't have to remove any original finish and you don't have to spray anything on top.you are just changing the sheen of the original factory finish.It is that simple.the same effort it takes to wax a bow.A $10.00 can will do many bows.

[Lefty]

Originally posted by southpawshooter:
No need to sand.  Get something like Johnsons Paste Wax, rub it on but don't buff it out.  Puts a nice haze on the bow.  At the end of the season rub it off and enjoy your glossy finish.

I do what Scott suggested.  Not only do you not have to sand the original finish, but the johnsons paste wax helps keep out moisture.

[ghost rob]

Hey John, Yes shooting a Widow again. Got it in a trade for the Hoots bow I had at Denton. This little bow is hands down the best shooting bow I've ever shot. I still have the longbow I just made and I'll shoot that too. Thanks everyone for your advice and tips. That rubbing compound sounds like something I might try.

[JimB]

I got a Vintage works 59 Kodiak replica several months ago that had a high gloss sheen and finally decided to take it back a notch.I had some of Brownells FFF Rubbing compound which is about twice as fine as the "Original" that I mentioned.It just took a few minutes to get a nice even semigloss finish.If I ever want to bring it back to the high gloss,some 5F compound which finer yet could be used in about the same amount of time.

[amar911]

Another way to dull the finish is to take it sheep or goat hunting in the mountains where there are lots of scree fields. By the end of the hunt the finish won't be shiny anymore. In fact, you will be fortunate if you still have any finish remaining on the bow.    

Allan

[Rob DiStefano]

0000 steel wool.

[Bill Carlsen]

I found a flat matte clear spray at ACE hardware that worked great on a set of limbs I have that were too shiny for my taste. I am in  bear camp right now or I would tell you the name and brand...but look where the spray paints are and you will find it. It is the only clear matte finish I have ever seen and it had no ill effects on the the limbs' original finish.

[Charlie Lamb]

I've used that too Bill... it's a Krylon product.

[Swamp Yankee]

I just put on Butchers paste wax and don't buff.  Protects the bow and doesn't remove any of the original finish like sanding or steel wool.

[huntmaster70]

I agree with Jim B on stock sheen or you could use the camo cloth tape then remove after hunting season back to original condition

[Kentucky Jeff]

If you use 0000 steel wool you should take it outside, hang it from a coathanger or some such, unroll the pad, set it on fire (yes it will burn)

After the oil burns off CAREFULLY roll the pad back up and then use it to rub out the bow with some linseed oil to help lubricate it.  If you burn the steel wool it won't cut the finish as aggressively as a plain pad.  DO NOT DO THIS INSIDE!!!  The steel wool will go up in flames like a christmas tree in January...you have been warned!

Otherwise you can use a stock rubbing compound or just go to autozone and buy some automotive rubbing compound...

[R. W. Mackey]

If you want it permentally flat finish, then I will go with what Bill and Charlie suggested. It's Krylon Matt Finish, in a spray can, great stuff. I used it recently over some snake skins, takes the shine out, but does,t marr the finish. Very nice flat finish, best I have found in a spray.  RW

[Craig]

Satin Spray in a can made by Deft. Drys in min.
Ace hardware sells it.