old bow and refinishing questions.

[mwmwmb]

I am new to tradgang. well i am new to bowhunting/shooting in general but I have my grandfathers old recurve. I have had it collecting dust for 30yrs and no telling how long he had it before he passed. I think it might be a pearson since we are from Arkansaw and it has Blemished stamped in it (maybe he got from the factory). it is wood with glass outer laminates. it has virtually no finish left but i see no cracks or separation. the green on the glass comes of with light finger nail rubbing.

what should i use to clean it up prior to sanding (mineral spirits, denatured alcohol or something else)?

will the glass stain with what ever i use on the wood? It is really light and i would like it darker

if so what should i use?

Also can i attach pictures or do i need to link them from some sort of picture hosting site?

Thanks in advance. i have been reviewing some of the older posts on this topic and it seems there is a world of knowlege gathered here

Mickey

[d. ward]

Mickey would it be possible for you to load some pics.You can store them at photobucket..bowdoc

[mwmwmb]

Sorry i had to set up a photo bucket account. thanks for you help doc.    
   
 http://i399.photobucket.com/albums/pp75/unionid/100_1428.jpg
 http://i399.photobucket.com/albums/pp75/unionid/100_1432.jpg

[d. ward]

The lettering nore the grip look Ben pearson to me.Not possitive but I don't think thats a BP.BP bows almost always have the cat# on the riser...Are you planning on restoring it.bd

[mwmwmb]

any suggestion as to what it might be. I was just thinking of refinishing it. and adding the felt/or fur to the shelf. but again it was my grandfathers so not real sure at this point.

[d. ward]

I'am looking in some old catalogs now.bd

[mwmwmb]

Originally posted by the real bowdoc:
I'am looking in some old catalogs now.bd

Any luck, or suggestions on how i should begin to clean it up.

[d. ward]

You can remove the paint with some mineral spirts or finger nail polish remover(acetone)and some steelwool.Go slow and do not scrub to hard with the steel wool.I like those nylon scotch  brite pads better then steelwool.If you got a walmart near you they have a pack of 6-8 for $3.00 or so.Once you get the paint removed then we can get a good look at the finish and see if if just needs to be buffed out or if she may need a complete restoration.bowdoc

[mwmwmb]

Thanks Doc,
I will get it cleaned up and get some more pics up. just curious what does a complete restoration run?

[d. ward]

Darn it man,I'am pretty certin she ai'nt a Ben Pearson.Maybe American Archery ?? Shakespeare ?? maybe even Browning something along those lines.I will keep looking.Be careful removeing the paint as there may be a label underneath it.I would like to add one note for you.I have seen the word blemish stamped into bows before but I've seen it used on Wing Archery bows.Bob Lee at Wing was the only manufature or let me say not the only manufacture but the most common manufacture to use the entire word BLEMISH-ed(ed on the end was the clue)on their bows in the late 1950"s and into the 1960's as well.Bob Lee also built many many Browning bows..keep us posted in you run across the label...bd

[mullet]

Doc, I know you are way over my head when it comes to this,but I have two old Pearsons.One is my first bow,got it when I was 12,(I'm 55 now). the second is a Pony I traded a BB gun for when I was 16.
  The first one, the oldest has the Spec's written just like the one in the picture above. It could be shot off either side. The Pony has the Cat# number liked you desribed, and then the Spec's.

[mullet]

Well, didn't see the new thread started on this. The bow I said was a Pony is actually a Colt, sorry, senior moment.Both of mine are 60" long, but , I swear the writing is the same and the glass design on the front looks like Pearson.

[mwmwmb]

thanks mullet.