Bow finishes.

[Sharp Shooter]

I'm not satisfied with the poly finishes I'm getting. Are there any post on here that show how to use Thunderbird? Thanks Tony

[Magnum in Ms]

I did a search for thunderbird and turned up some info that was useful and been reading over it. I ordered some finish from Big Jim today(same as Thunderbird) so Ill give it a shot when it gets here, I should be finished with a bow about then.

[Crooked Stic]

The epoxy finishs are the most durable. Just be sure to go with what the directions say for recoat time. If you do them too close together it gets milky. Dont ask  

[David Flanrey]

Sharp Shooter,
I use thunderbird.  I apply per the directions.  I put on two coats of gloss and one coat of satin.  In that order.  I wait three days and wet sand with 600 grit and put on a coat of furiture wax.  Hope this helps.  David

[Dmaxshawn]

I use big Jim's finish as well   Just like above two coats of gloss and then I run a green scrubie over it lightly.  Write on the bow. And then put on about 4 coats of satin spraying from a distance to give it a matte finish.    It's good stuff

Shawn

[Sharp Shooter]

Thanks guys for the help, I've got to buy a spray gun and give it a try. Tony

[kennym]

Will this type of finish work on coco and the like without sealing first?

Guess I need to go ahead and get a spray gun too, Tony!

[Sharp Shooter]

Kenny I'm not sure, questions like that are what I need to know as well. I would bet it would have to be sealed. Tony

[scottm]

Ive ben told you can use thunderbird or buffalo hyde to seal coco or other oily woods.Big Jim could tell you for sure.

[PV]

Tbird has sealed every wood I've used it on Kenny.

I use a $15 touch up gun for spraying. Works well with Tbird along with a inline water separator for the gun and paint strainer for the finish to keep any contaminates out of the mix.

[Dmaxshawn]

both epoxy finishes that were ttalking about seal the oily wood bows and porous woods really well.  some times it takes three coats of gloss to fill all the pores but it does seal it really well.  

Down here in the muggy south I thin the gloss 25 percent so it goes on nice.  for the satin finish I thin it to 10 percent.  I use the throw away pre-val sprayers  but have been debating on getting a air brush system.  

Hope this helps.

[David Flanrey]

I use a cheap touch up gun that I got at Harbor Freight.  It has a pretty good regulator on the gun and I have one on my compressor.  I too thin the gloss and the satin about 25%.  It has worked really well to fill the coco and zebra wood for me.

[critter69]

I just rub TB in with fingers to seal cocaboa. Then sprayed as usual.I have not used the gloss as the base coat,but spray the satin in three or four coats. Why are you folks using the gloss first? Dont mean to high jack, sorry. Delete if nessasary.

[kennym]

I assume you have to have an air drier or water filter too?

[T Folts]

Critter, I use the gloss to build the finish up and the sating to lower the gloss. Two reasons really one is if you put too much satin on or flatt it will look milky or cloudy and the second reason is the gloss is more durable. The satin has mica in it to reduce the gloss and therefore not as hard.

Kenny I just use a in-line water filter and havent had any issues yet.

[Dmaxshawn]

It will get milky and take away from the beauty of the bow if you dont put a couple coats of gloss on first.

[Sharp Shooter]

This is just what I was looking for, good discussion, lots of idea and applications. What has worked for you and what has failed.