Advice on finish

[mzombek]

Using any of the finishes you guys talk about, what is used to fill the pores in the wood? Does each finish require a different type of sealer?

[LESKEN2011]

It looks like the islands of finish I thought I was sanding out turned out the be the scrim left from where I had sanded through its in a few spots. The bow is salvageable, but is now about 10 lbs lighter than needed for my recipient. (Just perfect for my son).

I spent another day over at JamesV's shop for more pointers on running tapers with a thickness planer and advice on rub on finishes. Ms Sara made me a great BBQ chicken lunch and then James sent me home with a couple of new taper sleds and a reflex-deflex longbow form.

After a couple of years of winging it on my own with info I learned online, it sure is nice to have someone with a wealth of knowledge who is willing to share in a hands-on fashion. Thanks again, James and Ms Sara, for your hospitality and friendship.      

I got the smooth on in the mail over the weekend and have the new glass ordered for the replacement bow. The core tapers are ready for the glue up. I just need to make my new handle which I will do this week. By the weekend, I should be ready to start finishing the bow. This has been a real learning experience.

[cunruhshoot]

In a weird way I am glad to hear that I am not the only one struggling with getting a perfect finish. Misery loves company...

I too tried the Preval with horrible results. I broke down and bought a compressor and spray gun and some T-bird and although my first three were not perfect they are much better. I don't have a spray room and as someone stated earlier (I think Big Jim) the t-bird picks up any dust particles floating around in the room so I think I will be building a spray room asap. Actually in my case it will be more like a spray area rather than room. lol

Sounds like Krystal is something I might want to try as well.

[BWD]

Originally posted by Ranger44:
I brought it in the house to cure and gave it a few days.  I brought it to a friend's to show him and after 3 days of curing I could still smell it after it was in the truck.

It will stank, for a while, but the smell will eventually go away. Not a finish you want to spray on a bow then try to hunt with it a week later.

[canopyboy]

Originally posted by cunruhshoot:
I don't have a spray room and as someone stated earlier (I think Big Jim) the t-bird picks up any dust particles floating around in the room so I think I will be building a spray room asap. Actually in my case it will be more like a spray area rather than room. lol

Sounds like Krystal is something I might want to try as well.

Just picked up some Krystal a few hours ago for that very reason -- I don't do dust free that well. I can manage with quick dry lacquers though, I've been spraying those all my life.