Painting limbs

[jonathan creason]

Like I said before, I'm on board with my first recurve as of Friday.  I've got a PSE Blackhawk, which is a maple, walnut combo.  I really like the contrast of the woods, but the maple on the back of the limbs is really bright.  Not sure if I'll like that much flash when I finally get it in the woods.  I'm thinking about painting (the back of the limbs only) with oils.  I either want to make my own camo design using a lot of blending or go for the natural camo effect of a hen duck's feathering.

My question is, how should I prep the limbs before I paint?  Do I need to lightly sand the finish and then prime and paint, or can I paint right over top of what's there?  The factory finish is pretty slick, so I'm afraid there won't be enough tooth to hold the paint if I just go that route.

[Chris40]

Instead of painting the limbs.  Why don't you go with limb skins.  3 Rivers and Cabelas sells them.  They are a real thin spandex material.  They come in snake skin and a couple different camo patterns.  Also, One Stringer Custom Arrow Wraps has limb stickers that apply over the limbs and supposedly hold up really well.  Haven't tried them myself.  He makes them in all kinds of camo patterns.  ASAT, Predator, Real Tree, etc. (He has a website and they have been posted on here also)   The reason I say this is, you may regret painting your bow afterwards.  Especially if it has nice wood or when you upgrade and you want to sell or trade it.
  If you really want to paint it.  Lightly sand the limbs with 120 grit sand paper.  Wipe them down.  Mask the areas you don't want to paint with blue masking tape.  Clean the area to be painted with alcohol.  Lightly spray your base coat.  Let dry and lightly spray your second and third coats on.  You can make stencils cut out of card board and mist your other colors over the card board stencils. After it dries, you can spray a few coats of matt polyurethane over to protect it.  A few years ago, I did my Daughter's compound bow that was gloss black.  I made stencils that looked like tree branches.  Sprayed the bow black.  Then misted tan and brown stripes over the stencils.  Came out like ASAT.  You can buy camo spray paint at any hardware or hunting supply store.  As far as stencils go.  You can also use real leaves or branches or both.  I've seen that done and it looks good.

[Randy Koleno]

I use limbsations now, but I have used removable paint from HS Strut? (If it's still being made). All I did was wipe the bow with alcohol and spray it on.     Worked pretty decent and came off with goo-gone and a little elbow grease. Chris40 has a good plan for a perm. paint job.

[jonathan creason]

Thanks for the ideas.  Might try out the limbskins.  I've got enough painting to do as it is.