Wipe on poly finish for lam bows

[arachnid]

Hi guys.
Like the title says... Did anyone used wipe on poly for lam bows? If so, how do you apply it for good results?

[jsweka]

That's what I use.  It's not the greatest of finishes, but it's easy to apply and no fumes.

I simply dip a piece of a T-shirt rag into it and wipe it on smoothly.  Too much and it will run.  Steel wool between coats and repeat about 6 times.

One key to getting the finish to come out good is to let that first coat have a long drying time - like a couple days if you are working with an oily wood like cocobola.  If that first coat is completely dry, the rest will dry much quicker.

[monterey]

John, are you using the water based or oil based?

[John Malone]

I like oil finishes much better. Tung, teak, linseed what ever. Varnish before poly any day. They touch up much easier and are just as easy to apply. Also you can make your own, its much cheaper. Even if you do go poly just cut it 50/50 to start with then you can adjust to your liking.
Either way nice even thin coats and steel wool in between like jsweka mentioned.

[Wolftrail]

Ya oil based products are preferred but to many fumes in a small space so I use water based poly spray.  What I have done lately is hand rub stain with mineral oil mixed in then poly spray after.  I do this on my woodie arrow  shafts as well.  Works for me.

[John Malone]

I forgot some folks are in confined spaces. You can just about use whatever ya want, its not like its a chair sitting on the front porch year round. I like to use shellac also, it requires reapplying every so often but it gives me something to do on rainy days.

[jsweka]

John, are you using the water based or oil based?

Oil based.
There's a little odor from it, but nothing like other spray type finishes.

[Wolftrail]

Shellac is great stuff,  I think the reason I stopped using it is the shelf life.  I was buying it in liquid form.

[monterey]

I use shellac to seal oily wood and sand it into walnut.  Never thought of using it as a final finish.  In the past it was the finish of choice for military arms in Europe.

I've been cutting shellac with denatured alcohol and soaking it into leather grip wraps for moisture protection.

[John Malone]

Cant beat shellac for protection against moister or water vapor. Buy it in dry flakes and it last forever.