Wade's "Challenging Restores"

[warpedarrow]

Well, life has sort of gotten in the way of my bow restoring.  I have been spread a bit thin recently and haven't spent much time on these old bows.  Before getting my day started I have been trying to put a coat of finish on the bows, then going about my other work while the finish cures. I usually put a coat of finish on the limbs just to keep dirt out of the glass while I concentrate on the risers.  When the risers are about finished, I will work on the limbs and blend everything together.  The work progressed to the point where I could apply the dry transfers.  [/url] [/IMG]
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I got them all applied and sprayed a light coat of finish on them to protect them  from bumps and handling while I worked on the bows.  The bows were still a bit rough but I wanted to get some progress pictures for Wade so I took the bows outside to see what they look like in the sunlight.  [/url] [/IMG]  [/url] [/IMG]

Those holes that I filled really show up in the light.  I am disappointed in that as I used sawdust from the rosewood to fill the holes.  Something about the glue that I used darkened the sawdust.  I have seen guys fill holes in risers and you can't tell there was ever a hole when they are finished.  My skills are not to that point yet.  [/url] [/IMG]  
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After these pictures were taken I did a pretty aggressive sanding on the Deluxe and the '61 on both the limbs and the risers.  The finish on the risers still had tiny little dimples above some of the wood pores and I want the bow to feel as smooth as possible.  The limbs had a bit of orange peel on them from the spray that I use, so I sand them down and finish up with a wipe on that tends to lay flatter.  Just a few more days and these bows will be ready to go home.

[Wade Phillips]

Brad,

You do amazing work. The average bowmen probably wouldn't recognize those as being the same three bows that I sent to you.

Although I have made great progress with organizing and putting many additional bows on display here these past several weeks, there are still dozens of extra bows just taking up space on racks of extra bows.  

If you need more bows to refinish, I'm sure there are enough around here to keep you busy for several weeks.

[eidsvolling]

Pretty sure Fred would approve of what you've done here.
   

[Larry m]

Beautiful work Brad!

Matching holes in wood can be extremely difficult in the few that I have undertaken in the past. My best results were when I took a very thin artist brush and actually tried to match the color of the wood grain and paint in the grain pattern after smoothing and leveling the holes, then applying the clear coat. Not easy to do though and get the results you want without several tries!

[warpedarrow]

I'll post up a couple more pictures.  The 59 has some really funky wood.  It looks like I didn't get all of the old finish off of the bow or maybe changed the oil in the tractor and then handled the bow with dirty hands.  I actually had several coats of finish on this bow and didn't like the look of the wood, so I sanded it back down to bare wood, resealed it, and started building finish again. The smudges came back.  I do not know if it is caused by the old cracks in the finish or if it is just unique to this piece of wood, but it is a bit unsettling to put a lot of work into a bow and have it come out looking smudged.  It actually looks better in the hand than in a photo.    [/url] [/IMG]

Also, if anyone has a Kodiak Deluxe with really ugly glass, I have the paint formula that I used for color.  Just message me and I will get it to you    [/url] [/IMG]  There are probably several different colors that would look nice on the Deluxes, depending on the wood in the bow.  

This may be the last bows that I use this process for finishing.  I didn't keep track of my time but would not be surprised if I have close to forty hours labor on each bow.  I purchase a new high volume low pressure sprayer a couple of weeks ago and also purchased some two part epoxy bow finish from a sponsor on Tradgang.  I prepped the 67 Super Kodiak that Wade sent me, maybe four hours work, shot two coats on it, sanded a bit, and it is ready for dry transfers and a few more coats of finish.  I am guessing six to eight hours will finish the bow.  I have a couple of other bows that Wade sent that are missing serial numbers.  They will be my first real wood bows that I try the new to me finish on.  If I can get an authentic 1950s look to the bow, that will be the way to go for me.  

Thanks for the compliments guys.  Let's hope that Wade likes his bows when they arrive back at the arsenal.

[warpedarrow]

The bows are boxed up and will be on their way to Omaha later this morning.  I am planning on going fishing if the weather isn't too wet.

Here is Wade's picture from the other thread:  [/url] [/IMG]

Here is the same arrangement taken yesterday:  [/url] [/IMG]

And a few more parting shots:  [/url] [/IMG]

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It has been fun, frustrating, and rewarding working on these old bows, especially the painted Deluxe.  I never dreamed that ugly thing could ever look good again, but in my opinion, it is the best looking of the three.

[Wade Phillips]

Brad,

They look great!!! I can't believe that Deluxe is the same bow!!! Thanks again for your hard work!!!

I will get busy this morning making room for them to be displayed on their respective bow display racks.

Then will spend the rest of the week sitting on the front porch waiting for the mail man to deliver them.

[Wade Phillips]

Brad,

The three bows arrived safely and are simply incredible...

I made room for two of them among the usual suspects on one of the Kodiak Special display racks.

 

[Wade Phillips]

The partial sapwood inset 64" is the only duplicate length in all of the Kodiak Special display racks, but this bow is unique enough to be deserving to make an exception and having it occupy a spot...

       

[warpedarrow]

Wade,

You,sir, are an over achiever.  Incredible display.  Someday
I will make it to Omaha.

[wooddamon1]

Beautiful work, Brad, and incredible collection, Wade! Wow!

[alaskabowhunter]

I have a very similar 66 inch '59 Kodiak Special on the wall. Great work on the restorations, true craftmanship.  
 

[warpedarrow]

Alaska,

You and I must share an appreciation for 1959 Kodiak Specials.  I have four but none with the light colored wood.  I have restored one of mine and might do one or two of the others when life slows down.  They are the first truly fancy bows that Bear produced and are good shooters to boot.