Question on Limb Paint

[PSUBowhunter]

I just bought a Brackenbury bow on AT. The riser is spotless, but the limbs have some dings, and they are brown. I would like to refinish the limbs. Is there a way I can simply paint the limbs. I would like to paint them black. If so, what type of paint would I use.

[draco]

It would almost be a sin to paint that Brackenbury. Your going to make Jim roll over in his grave. He hated to have people paint his bows. Those "dings" show the hard use that bow was intended for. If you just cant stand it,refinish it satin clear or send it to Bowdoc and let him do it; but dont paint it.   Bob

[Scott J. Williams]

I have painted a number of bows over the years. For me, a pretty bow is nice, one that won't spook game is better.  

Here are few options,  first off I use Rustolium, I clean the limb with a cloth with a little  LACQUER Thinner, it won't hurt the finish, a little trick I learned from Mike Palmer.  

The tape off everything you don't want paint on, maybe best to remove the limbs and place them on a some news paper.  

I believe in using a base coat, gray of white primer.  Then once it has dried you can paint it with the flat black.  While it drys quickly, give it a day or two before you start shooting it, just to give it time to cure.

You can remove it with a little   LACQUER thinner and some elbow grease, the finish will be as if you never painted it.

The other option, less drastic, there is a company on the net that sells cap wraps,  they also have adhesive limb covers that come with fake snake skin patterns, all kinds of snake patterns, haven't used them yet, but will try a couple soon.  As soon as I find that company name I will post it here.  

Either of the listed methods will give years of service, and are cheaper than the cost of refinishing, and you won't be without your bow for weeks at a time.....

[Russ Clagett]

will the paint flake off after drawing and shooting?

[vermonster13]

Onestringer is a sponsor here and makes the adhesive limb covers. They work real well.

[macbow]

I've seen onestringer's snake covers. Looked good.
Ron

[Scott J. Williams]

No Sir, the paint if done as I have explained will not chip, peel, or flake.  I have been painting bows, both recurve and compounds for years this way.  

I prefered the paint, until I saw the snake covers.  Thanks for providing the name for the supplier guys,  when I get home tonight I am going to order a pair for my Widow Longbows.

[ber643]

I put a pair of those "Skinsations" on my (Glossy) Osage snakey self bow to tone it down for the hunting season. Easy to use, did the trick, looked great (I posted pics here), and the best part is they come off easy when/if you get ready to take them off (not a heavy adhesive).

Here's one of the pics:

 

[PSUBowhunter]

The bows limbs are already painted, whether they were stock that way or not I do not know. But the brown finish on them does not look good in my opinion. Does the guy that makes the snakeskins make black covers.