Author Topic: how should I finish? sinew backed maple selfbow  (Read 502 times)

Offline chuprinko

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how should I finish? sinew backed maple selfbow
« on: September 02, 2013, 09:48:00 PM »
Ok, looking for some input and assistance.  
This is my first sinew backed bow.  It is a maple stave, slight recurved tips with heat. Has some bumps, curves and dips that were a challenge.  It was my first (and possibly last) time adding sinew. I used hide glue, what a sticky, smelly challenge.  I had the sinew much to thin, which made it a long long job.  Anyway, it is now dry and pulling about 55#. It's about 2" at fades down to 3/8" at tips.
So looking for thoughts on backing or protecting it.  I have true oil, linen cloth backing, spray poly, smooth-on, so which should I use?  I'm in New Jersey so heat and humidity are factors. I may stain it to make it darker for hunting. (no-this is not my place, worked on it while on vacation - WISH it was!)

Thanks in advance, learned a lot from everyone on here.

Neil

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Offline Crimson mist

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Re: how should I finish? sinew backed maple selfbow
« Reply #1 on: September 03, 2013, 03:23:00 AM »
Nice Job!
I get pretty good results with gloss spar varnish. I try to stay better brands, Jamestown has some very expensive stuff but McCloskey Manowar red label works great and isn't too expensive. I tend put some in a separate container and thin it some.
Humidity has been high here so I have been adding a little japan dryer which helps a lot. You can also make it a rubbing varnish by thinning down 20% or so and rubbing on with a lint free rag which keeps you from dealing with runs. Five coats with a little sanding between with 320 and a couple of coats of wax. You also steel wool the final finish for hunting.

Offline Pat B

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Re: how should I finish? sinew backed maple selfbow
« Reply #2 on: September 03, 2013, 09:09:00 AM »
Snake skins add not only beauty to a bow but moisture protection to a sinew backed bow. You can use Tru-Oil over the skins or just over the sinew backing.
 This is what I use. First the snake skin(fish skins too)then about 5 or 6 coats of Tru-Oil with 0000 steel wool rubbing between coats. When the Tru-Oil has cured out well I'll put a quick spray of satin poly over the bow to cut the shine of the Tru-Oil. It doesn't take much.
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!
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Offline chuprinko

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Re: how should I finish? sinew backed maple selfbow
« Reply #3 on: September 03, 2013, 04:09:00 PM »
thanks for the replies.  I might just use the tru-oil then poly or spar.  I have the fake-cloth snake skin, but it is white and black print, so not ideal for hunting. I wish I could afford real snake skins, maybe for some future bow..  It's been a challenge and hope to have it ready for the fall season.
didn't understand - now I do.

Offline Pat B

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Re: how should I finish? sinew backed maple selfbow
« Reply #4 on: September 03, 2013, 04:48:00 PM »
You can stain the sinew back or paint it with acrylic paint.
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!
TGMM Family of the Bow

Offline chuprinko

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Re: how should I finish? sinew backed maple selfbow
« Reply #5 on: September 03, 2013, 06:02:00 PM »
thanks for the replies.  I might just use the tru-oil then poly or spar.  I have the fake-cloth snake skin, but it is white and black print, so not ideal for hunting. I wish I could afford real snake skins, maybe for some future bow..  It's been a challenge and hope to have it ready for the fall season.
didn't understand - now I do.

Offline awishanew

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Re: how should I finish? sinew backed maple selfbow
« Reply #6 on: September 05, 2013, 06:31:00 PM »
I used tru-oil and have had great results. I also live on the WET coast of Canada, so if it stands up to that its pretty good.

Offline awishanew

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Re: how should I finish? sinew backed maple selfbow
« Reply #7 on: September 05, 2013, 06:33:00 PM »
I used tru-oil and have had great results. I also live on the WET coast of Canada, so if it stands up to that its pretty good.

Offline awishanew

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Re: how should I finish? sinew backed maple selfbow
« Reply #8 on: September 05, 2013, 06:34:00 PM »
I used tru-oil and have had great results. I also live on the WET coast of Canada, so if it stands up to that its pretty good.

Offline awishanew

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Re: how should I finish? sinew backed maple selfbow
« Reply #9 on: September 05, 2013, 06:34:00 PM »
I used tru-oil and have had great results. I also live on the WET coast of Canada, so if it stands up to that its pretty good.

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