Problem sealing osage

[wolfshadow]

Finished my first Osage bow, final sanding, etc.  Sprayed it with polyurethane, two days drying and it is tacky.  Never seems to dry hard.  Any suggestions?

[red hill]

Try a fan on low? I used poly only a few times. Didn't like it.

[macbow]

In the future if you can find shellac it will seal oily woodreally well then almost any finish will stick to it.
I do this to my Ipe or Tru-oil can take forever to dry.

I purchased granulated shellac thru the net. Then just mix a little at a time with denatured alcohol since it has a shelf life..

[Robertfishes]

I had good luck using Zissner Bullseye (dewaxed) shellac in the spray can.. I used it over Pau Fero Rosewood then sprayed Spar Urethane over it for the final finish.. the Bullseye dries very quick..the spar takes at least 12 hours even in the summer..and give it 3 days to cure.

[Robertfishes]

If your shop is cold then it might have a hard time drying.. can you bring your bow into your warm house?

[Tom Leemans]

Helmsman Spar Urethane is a good finish out of a spray can.

[wolfshadow]

I wonder if I should have wiped the bow down with denatured alcohol to remove oil from the Osage.

[Pat B]

I don't think osage is that oily that the poly wouldn't dry. I'd say it was either the poly, temperature or humidity. Try the poly on something else and see if it dries.

[Tom Leemans]

I agree 100% with Pat on this one. I've never had osage be the cause.

[wolfshadow]

Thanks for the tips.  I spray it in my garage, then bring it into the house.  Having read all this, my guess is it was bad poly.  It was an old can, although I brought in the house to warm up the can, maybe I didn't mix/shake it good, or it was just bad stuff.  We learn something every day, don't we?

[John Scifres]

I have used Minwax spray poly on a whole lotta osage bows and the only trouble I ever have is spraying when it is cold or humid.  I try to do it only when it is 60 degrees and over and  70% RH and lower.  I cheat sometimes by keeping the bow and can inside and quickly spraying it out in the garage and bringing it back inside as soon as the stink dies down.  It doesn't give a great finish but it is sometimes my only choice.  If it is under 40 degrees, it doesn't work.  In those situations I use Teak oil.

[Roy from Pa]

You may have also put it on too heavy.

[stringstretcher]

I have the same problem around here with the humidity.

[Robertfishes]

I have a yard sale dehumidifier that works very good..I turn it on an hour before spraying finish..then leave it on for at least 12 hours after spraying the finish..I spray in a 8x10 room and it also heats the room up as it runs..

[George Tsoukalas]

Humidity in Dec. is an interesting concept to a NH boy. I agree with Pat and John. Give it time. Jawge

[Jake Fr]

If you can get it deft works well on oily wood as well then true oil or spar urthan over it to finish