Care for Longbow - wax?

[DaveT1963]

I've heard a few people talk about applying wax to their longbow to help protect finish?  What wax do you recommend and how do you apply it.  Thanks

[Rifle River Scout]

A good quality canuba auto wax.
Jack Harrison put me on to that trick.

[Flying Dutchman]

Thunderbird epoxy advices the following: "Wax the bow if you want to. We use "Pledge" furniture polish as a last step".

[Grey Taylor]

I'm kind of wondering what wax would really do besides just make the bow look shiny, or dull if the wax isn't rubbed off.
It seems to me that a wax is going to be a whole lot softer than the epoxy resin finish of a glass lam bow. How would it protect it?

Guy

[bamboo]

any finish can benefit from a coat of wax--most are not as waterproof as you might think

[frankwright]

I have used Minwax Wood Floor Wax, regular Car Wax, Turtle wax spray wax and even furniture polish. It all worked well.

I think it keeps the bow from getting scratched up as much when in a tree stand or walking through brush.

Plus, I like shiny bows  

[Red Beastmaster]

Before hunting season I rub a stick of string wax over my limbs and smear it around with my thumb. This really cuts the shiny glare from the bow. When the season is over I buff it out with a soft rag.

A well finished bow should not need wax, I just do it dull the shine.

[Bladepeek]

One thing to be careful of. I used some furniture wax on one of my recurves and had a heck of a time using a stringer with the rubber block. Surface was just too slick. I finally took it off with some warm soap and water and cleaned the wax build-up off the rubber block with some alcohol and life was good again.

[legends1]

Most liquid car wax is fine.

[Rifle River Scout]

Use a paste car wax before hunting season and leave it on, it dries to a flat finish. When season is over rub to a shine.
This removes reflection and protects finish.

[tracker12]

Johnson's Floor paste wax.  Great stuff if you can find it.  My can must be 25 years old and still going strong.

[heydeerman]

Mothers Canuba wax is what I use

[Lefty]

I use Johnson's paste wax as well.  If you have a really shiny bow and want to dull it up, just leave the wax on and don't buff off until season is over.

[fnshtr]

I use martin guitar polish... more to just clean it up some though.

[calgarychef]

Renaissance wax is the answer you're looking for, FAR better than any other.  It's used by all leading museums.

[Ric O'Shay]

KIWI Neutral shoe polish.    

[Jack Hoyt 75]

Birchwood Casey Gun Stock Wax works great.  Very smooth finish and protects wood.

Note: Always try a new product on small area before waxing the entire bow.

[TSP]

If it's hunting season beware waxing your bow with something that smells like a gas can.  A little thinned cooking paraffin works as well for protection from rain and dulling a bow's shiny finish, and there's no odor.