Spray Finishing a Bow?

[Drewster]

I have an Omega longbow that I'm in the process of finishing.  I've done the final detail shaping of the grip and have it nicely sanded.  I put a coat of tung oil on the walnut riser and will let it dry a couple days.  After reading numerous threads here, I plan to do a spray finish with Helmsman Spar Urethane.

I have some experience with spray finishing using spray guns and rattle cans.  However, I've never sprayed a bow.  Is it best to hang the bow and spray all the surfaces at once?  Should I spray several light coats in one day?  How many coats would be good to do?  I assume you cannot sand between coats if you're spraying a coat every 1 1/2 hours or less with the urethane?

Any tips on doing a really nice spray finish would be appreciated.

[beetlebailey1977]

I just finished my first bow with Helmsman spar urethane and it works very well.  I held the bow up horizontal from my shed with clothes hangers  I bent the hook part so that it would support the bow in the nocks just barely touching in two spots.  I sprayed light even coats every 1 hr or so for a total of 6 coats....darn near used the whole can.

After everything dries real well.  At least 24 hours.....take some very fine steel wool and buff the whole bow.....this will removing the roughness from the finish and make it very smooth.

Everything was coated very well when the bow was finished.  Be sure and spray the coats at least a hour a part and no more than 1 1/2 hours apart.

Before I had finished the bow I had used minwax stain on the bow.

[macbow]

I have hung the bow by tying thread in one of the string nock grooves and hanging,from that.

[John Scifres]

I just hold it at the handle and then spray it, nice and even on both limbs.  I like 6-10 light coats.  I set it on the cap that comes with the spray can. 45 minutes or less between coats.  I don't usually sand between coats.  

I spray the handle after the limbs are dry.  It takes 3 days to cure and then I sand with 320 grit, do my ink work, and give it a couple more coats.  After 3 more days, I like to rub it down real good with an old towel and then give a lookover to see if there are any problems with the finish.  If you wax it with car wax every once in a while it will stay looking top notch.