What to look for in bow to refinish

[neveroutofthefivering]

Hi I have been getting some questions about bows that people want to refinish. The biggest mistake probabably is wanting to refinish a bow that is not worth more the the refinish job. If you want to restore say an old Indian archery bow thats maybe worth 75 dollars dont have it refinished for 150. If you find an old bow the less strees in the limbs the better the bow will look sometimes you will have to clean or wipe down really well. so you can actually see the limbs. If you have any questions on a bow please ask thanks.

[Bjorn]

Frankly I have seen people refinish collector bows that were presentable as is, and refinishing often diminishes the value of a highly sought after collector bow. I recommend refinishing bows that you intend to use for hunting and maybe 3D. And take a good look at the others to see if a careful cleaning might not do the trick instead.

[neveroutofthefivering]

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[neveroutofthefivering]

I collect bows myself, and have heard a lot of people discuss collecting,Its nice to have a 67 super kodiak in the box. But those bows dont come around a lot. I didnt say thay every bow needs refinished, When you are looking for a bow it can have tape all over it, or be extremely yellow, If that same bow has no stress it will clean up to where it looks new. A bow that is structally sound makes for a better refinish than one thats not. I have a 59 kodiak that bowdoc did a couple of years ago 64 inchs and 50 pounds, the bow only has two small stress marks on the limbs, but looked like crap all over, Now its a 59 that looks new. Yes its refinished does that not make it a 59 kodiak? Any time a take that bow to a shoot no one says hey, thats been refinshed they just drool on it............lol

[neveroutofthefivering]

I recently did two 67 super kodiaks one was 64 inchs and 55 pounds the bow had no holes and was covered with  engineer tape......I dont know why? anyway when I finally got all the tape off the limbs they were virtually stress free This bow really cleaned up nicely and looks great! The other was 60 inchs and 53 pounds once again the limbs had tape old camo and was very yellow all over both bows now look very nice just because the didnt have stress.

[neveroutofthefivering]

When I refinish a bow, I try and keep as much of the original as I can, decals. serial number etc some you have to do over. No I dont mark refinish... and yes some people cant tell even so called collectors thats where you have problems as bj said in the above post most dont like a refinish but some cant tell. Just being honest.........