Finish on bows.

[Flem]

If you are buying premixed shellac, get what Stic mentioned. I do what Max does, dry flakes and Everclear.
But don't drink the Everclear with the shellac in it, or you will need to top coat your mouth.

[Jeff Freeman]

I know the epoxy that I mentioned above is expensive. But it was well worth it. If that's what you get. Get a hold of me when you go to use it I can help you through it.
It was quite the game changer for me. I used to use big Jimms Buffalo glossy epoxy for my fill work, but that took a while. I still use glossy epoxy after I've done my fill work with the mas epoxy. Or what I like the most is just brain helmsman spar varnish indoor outdoor urethane satin sheen on before I do my marking and signing. As my final coat. I use the helmsman because anybody can find it later down the road if they get a little light scratch in it that they want to fix they can sand it spray it and be done. You need to have to scratch it pretty hard to get through the epoxy fill.JF

[Crooked Stic]

Max good article on the shellac.
Too much Everclear will pickle ur body 

[Flem]

https://www.shellac.net/dewaxed_shellac.html

[Mad Max]

That’s where I got mine flem

[Tim Finley]

Im using Blacktail finish it is a 3 part finish, on the last coat you mix the flattening agent so you can have satin , flat or skip the flattener and go with glossy its makes beautiful finish .

[garyschuler]

All I use anymore is Helmsman outdoor Spar Urethane. 

[mmattockx]

All I use anymore is Helmsman outdoor Spar Urethane.

Do you brush or spray it? I've used it on a couple bows but had issues with runs.


Mark

[Noah70]

I used to apply about 6 coats of Minwax Wipe-on Poly, and it creates a beautiful deep hand rubbed finish.  But now I apply 2 coats of Tung Oil, then 2 coats of coating epoxy, rubbed with 000 steel wool between all coats.  Then top coat with 4 coats sprayed on satin lacquer. No pores and it will last years.

[Crooked Stic]

How is the Blacktail stuff for spraying ? And expensive?
Gonna try the shellac under Krystal on a test piece soon.

[Arlo]

There are tons of different kinds of wood finish out there, and some are really durable in the outdoor elements, and some are not…. Epoxy base finish is hard to beat for longevity, but it has a tendency to yellow out over the years. A lot of finishes do that, and it looks cool on some wood species. On darker woods that yellowing takes away from the look.

Filling grain slots you have to think about shrinkage. I use lacquer for a sanding sealer a lot. But on some wood species it just doesn’t fill the grain well at all.

[Arlo]

My tablet ran out of juice on my post…..

Spraying Clear coating is a trade in itself that takes a lot of experience to get a good constant product. Ive had a few buddies over the years that were auto painters, and using the right equipment and the right products is critical. Every different product you use has its own characteristics. Some need reducers, and some don’t….. but the cool part about using auto clear coating vs epoxy finishing bows is that it doesn’t yellow out over time, and stays crystal clear……

but…. It’s a huge learning curve learning what product works best. air gun settings and proper tip size, and when to use reducer and when not to… how close to the surface to spray, and fan adjustment itself can make a huge difference…..  I prefer the auto clearing over any other finish for bows.     

[Jeff Freeman]

I've used auto clear. Back when I was in the auto body repair industry. We used Dupont clear. Very shiny and slick. Yes it has sunscreens in it. I don't use it anymore though.

[Appalachian Hillbilly]

In a past life, I restored and painted old Broncos.  Unless you have a production spray booth, you want an air dry clear coat as opposed to heated booth force dry.

Several makers, I used DuPont and HOK,make a "snap dry" clear. Dust free in as little as 15 minutes. This helps hobbies and others with less than perfect environment acheive dust free paint jobs .

Especially useful on small panels  or projects. Be great for bows!

I just used the DuPlacolor Matte wheel finished on a riser the other day.

I was really impressed with how it looks! We will see how it holds up.

[Arlo]

There are a bunch of different auto clear coats that are designed for force dried booth applications and production. Fast activators, medium, and slow are options too. most of those need reducers and kick off really fast....Some of them are a nightmare to work with and are REAL expensive.

I've found a product i like a lot that is pretty user friendly in my small spray booth that doesn't cost half of what some of these clear coats do. Its  called "Euroclear" made by Pro Line performance products out of Olympia Wa. In 70-90 degree booth temp you can run this through HVLP gun with a 1.4 tip with no reducer at all.  4:1 material to activator ratio.  It was referred to me by another bowyer that has used it for years.... Good stuff!