Bow, Refinishing & "DEFT" ??

[AdamH]

How does Deft hold up, compared to other products ?? Thank You, Adam

[koger]

I have used it, a little too soft for my liking, for harsh outdoor enviroments, and not babying a hunting bow. I have sprayed it, baked it under a a couple of heat bulbs for a hour and it held up well under hunting conditons, on bows and gunstocks I have made/refinished.

[Ringneck]

Lacquer usually isn't the best choice for items that are exposed to moisture and hard use. It's easy to apply but I would use minwax spray helmsman instead or another product.

[Over&Under]

I have only used Deft and Helmsman.

Deft was IMO is far ahead of Helmsman.  So far it has held up very well, and is definatly tougher than than Helmsman.  I recently finished a blank and sprayed it with Deft. I have not babied that bow by any means and the Deft has held up marvously.

I can't really compate it to other finishes as I have not used them but Deft in a rattle can for the do-it-yourselfer seems to be a good bet

[ckanous]

Urethanes are tougher than lacquers so I would lean towards Spar urethane because its a little tougher but the Deft will work and make a nice finish. You want even more answers to confuse you post this in Bowyers Bench. Which ever you use take your time and let it dry between coats and sand lighty between coats. Don't try to do it with one or two heavy coats, this will produce you a great looking finish.

[Red Tailed Hawk]

I like deft alot and use it on all my selfbows. Holds up very well.

[PEARL DRUMS]

Certain woods wont accept either Helmsman or Deft. They need a catalyed finish. What kind of wood are you refinishing Adam?

[PEARL DRUMS]

duplicate

[wingnut]

If you can't use a product like Thunderbird then Deft satin wood finish is hard to beat.  Easy for anybody to apply and pretty durable for a spray can finish.  Unlike Spar it will seal and dry on woods like cocobolo.  We recommend it to people finishing out our bow blanks.


Mike

[AdamH]

Thanks much Fellas ...

[JamesV]

Try Krylon Crystal from Wally World.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Originally posted by PEARL DRUMS:
Certain woods wont accept either Helmsman or Deft. They need a catalyed finish. What kind of wood are you refinishing Adam?

Really? this is one i'm interested in....  What type of woods won't accept helmsman spar varnish?

i love the deft for quick sealing in the shop. and use the brush on deft to fill grain pores prior to finishing with a cat finish or a poly...

but rattle can deft, as easy as it is to use, doesn't do well in really wet climates at all.

[JJB]

Adam - I've used several products and prefer the deft.  It's worked good from me here in Wisconsin, even on the oily woods.

[Stiks-n-Strings]

I love deft, but lately have been using tru oil.

[Loren Holland]

i use deft gloss. i think the gloss cures a little harder and you can always hit will 0000 steel wool. i use the deft, because i dries so fast i do a bow quickly, and even over bocote and ipe it dries, whereas the spars take forever.

[Stiks-n-Strings]

Any gloss finish will setup harder than satin. I like to use gloss and a final coat of satin.