Refinish an older Bear

[LongStick64]

I recently picked up a 68 Bear Super Kodiak, overall in pretty decent shape. Part of me want's to keep it with the battle scars, the other part of me is thinking of having it restored.

What would you guys do ? and who is a reputable person to handle a bow restoration ?

I honestly do not intend to shoot the bow much even though I do shoot it well.

Thanks
Pete

[shag08]

Give DIY a try. Go over to the Trad History/collecting section here and check out "Restoration 101" thread. Great info and lots of step by step pics. I did a refinish myself on an old Ben Pearson awhile back and it came out pretty nice and it was a lot of fun.

[Sam McMichael]

As long as it is in reasonably good shape, I would leave original.

[59Alaskan]

Your bow should match you.  If you are getting plastic surgery to cover up your old scars than I would go for it on the bow....

More seriously, it's 100% personal preference but I like to look at the wear and dream about what the bow may have done.

In my humble opinion there is no wrong answer here.  Just my 0.02

[woodchucker]

Just shoot it!!!!! They were meant, to be bent!!!!!

[Tom]

As much as I understand keeping a bow original I am in the process of refinishing two Bear bows, a '60 KS and a '65 Grizzly. They were shootable but I wanted to get some rough spots (stress and rough varnish) smoothed out and the natural beauty of the wood protected. It is relaxing process for me and have done quite a few like this. Even though not "original" I will feel better knowing they  are good looking and protected from the weather to walk the woods with me this fall.

[LongStick64]

Thanks guys, being that I don't really trust myself to restore the bow, I'm going to keep it the way it is, imagining the stories it could tell.

[restless]

My take is Bows that have unserviceable Finish or broken tip's Ect. get refinished. a touch up for wear or scratches keeps the Bow original. I did a refinish on a '59 Grizzly that I wish now I had only cleaned up. I have however learned a lot about Refinishing Bows by reworking a few that had been Painted over.

[jhk1]

If the original finish iz in decent shape except for some spots where finish has come off or been scratched off, you could apply Minwax wipe-on polyurethane with a q-tip or small brush to just those spots.  Use either gloss or satin to best match with original finish.  2 or 3 thin coats should provide adequate protection from the elements.  Let dry 24 hours after final coat and you're good to go.  2 or 3 weeks later (so poly fully cures) apply a couple coats of paste wax (Johnson's paste wax in yellow can from Home Depot is good inexpensive wax) to the entire bow to protect the finish and give extra measure of weather protection.

If you decide not to touch the original finish, the paste wax is still a good idea.  It will give some protection to the spots where the finish is gone or in rough shape.

[PaulDeadringer29]

I would have it refinished, especially for the year Super Kodiak it is. It would be like having the new phenolic SuperK everyone is wanting.....sort of.

[Hopewell Tom]

I battle with this question daily.

I know,I should get a life! I have a '66 and a '70 Grizzly. Both excellent, but those little "bits" seem so obvious and not "needed". Then there's the keeping it original...

As said, totally to each their own. I'm not making any hasty decisions, but may get the courage to tackle it myself. If I mess it up, it's off to the Bow Hospital.

[Sixby]

Peter, I refinish mine. Most of those old bows have had the finish dry up and crackle. I do not feel like that protects the wood well enough. Just be super careful around the writing and logos ect. You can even tape them off. When sanding limbs always leave enough finish on to block sand down to the glass by hand. I coat with epoxy mixed with 1/3 acetone and applied with a cotton swab. Sand and recoat, then finish out with Tru Oil. You can end up with a glass finish that will actually look better than original. '
If you want to dull it down just sand the last coat with 400 wd and shoot with Helmsman Spar Var Satin or Semi Gloss. I would use the Semi Gloss on that bow.  Or if you have a setup for it you can shoot with T Bird from start to finish.

God bless, Steve

[Pine]

http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=142076;p=1#000000

[stagetek]

I have no problem with restoring them to their original condition. They are great old bow's and deserve to look that way. Filling cracks and holes, adding modern day finishes, gives them a decent chance of being around another 45+ years.

[BelegStrongbow]

I have a 71 SK I had refinished along with a few other modifications done by Jim Neaves at Centaur Archery. Everybody who shoots her says how nice it looks compared to what it did.

Heres a link.

 http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=139259;p=1