Frustrating time refinishing cocobolo -bow

[KSdan]

Got some great advice on the site here but things are just not working well.

I tried to refinish my own bow.  Cocobolo riser fade outs, and tips.  Yew limbs under clear glass.

So I tried car clear coat (acrylic lacquer) to start with. That worked good to seal the cocobolo but I really wanted a Satin finish. So. .  1) Tried the 1-2 coat of polyurethane- NOT!  Will not adhere to the clear coat (Yes- I roughed it up.  Incompatible!) 2) Figured I would try dulling the gloss finish of the clear coat. But what I notice, particularly on the limbs, is that the clear coat just does not look even.  There are areas that are smooth, some areas look a little cloudier, and some have that subtle orange-peel look. When I seek to dull it all of those inconsistencies look like crap. I tried sanding smooth and recoating and I still end up with an uneven finish.  

Any ideas. I am about ready to strip it all again with lacquer thinner and try something else.  What a pain!  

What could I seal the cocobolo with that would then allow me to use a satin polyurethane?

What about Spar Varnish?

Other ideas??  Thanks. . .

Dan in KS

[Mike/Columbia Basin]

I hear that you can seal the wood with super glue sand and then poly over that. Never tried it but have heard of good results.

[B M A]

After you strip it down take and wipe down the cocobolo with Acetone until it stops bleading onto your rag.  Then you can seal it using super glue or even a thinned down epoxy.  After you have it sealed sand it with 220 to make a good adhesion with your finish.  
Myself I have used the Helmsman Spar Varnish/Urethane and have been very happy with the results.  I use the clear satin.  Then to nock off the sheen hit it with 0000 steel wool and buff.

[Andrew Wesley]

x2 on what BMA said. worked great for my cocobolo riser.

except i used a clear matte finish so there's NO sheen.

[rainman]

Use Shellac as your sealer, all finishes stick to it,  I would use a 2 pound cut, just seal the Coco Bolo and use Blonde shellac.

[PEARL DRUMS]

I finished a bow blank a while back and sealed it with super glue, then 5-6 coats of Tru -oil. No problem-o.............so far.........

[Jeremy]

I use dewaxed shellac.  I haven't run into a topcoat that doesn't stick to it and it highlights the grain better than any other sealer coats I've tried.

[vanillabear?]

[KSdan]

"Strip down" - does that mean all old finish right down the glass and wood?  Is that done just sanding or using some type of stripper?

"Superglue" - Does a guy buy a larger container or something.  All I know of is those small little tubes?

"thinned down epoxy" - what is that?

"steel wool and buff" - after steel wool, buff with what?

Thanks much guys.
Dan

[PEARL DRUMS]

A little super glue goes a LONG way. A regular size tube will easily do a riser. Strip the riser down to clean wood, sanding is your best bet for that. Get the feel for super glue on a scrap piece of wood, a small drop will rub into a large area, you will be suprised. I use it on antler overlays as well so that the finish doesnt soak right in, or the glue.

[John Scifres]

Does the lacquer have a cure time?  If so, did you wait until it was fully cured to coat with poly?  I agree that stripping and CA glue (superglue) sealer will work but you might not have to go that far.  If it were me, I'd coat the lacquer with shellac and then poly.  That should work too and you are building up finishes.

[KSdan]

Thanks Pearl (Central MI!-Cool. Say yah to da UP ey!)  Got it.

John- Yup.  Let it cure in a 70 degree room for 48 hours.  I like the shellac then poly idea.

Thanks much guys.  Feel free to include any more- I will be watching.

Dan in KS

[D]

I just did a cocobolo riser a few days ago and I rubbed it down with acetoned several times and then sprayed it with minwax lacquer satin about five coats  I think.  Got it good ol Walmart and didn't have any problems at all with it looking different or spotty.   But I do know what your talking about.  I done some bolo tips last year and used helmsman spar urethane and it liked to never have dried, the rest of the bow dried but just not the tips but I didn't know about acetoneing it either.

[BWD]

Sealed cocobolo with bulls eye shellac, sanded lightly, then went over it with four coats of helmsman spar urethene satin...no problems.

[KSdan]

Thanks guys.

[Stagmitis]

ksdan,

If you can find the Loctite 2-ton epoxy use that. If not the 5-min stuff..

Thin with Acetone 5 parts to one. I like this better than the Super glue.

[JJB]

I've had good luck with Deft Clear Wood Finish - Waterborne acrylic finish on cocobolo.