Crinkling/Cracking In Finish of Bows Made Out of Cocobolo

[WildmanSC]

Has anyone experienced crinkling/cracking in the finish in bows built out of Cocobolo or any other woods that have oily characteristics?  I just received a bow that is drop dead gorgeous.  However, if you get the riser with the light shining just right you can pick out 4 or 5 cracks in the finish and another 8 or so crinkles.  I suspect the 4 or 5 cracks initially started out as crinkles and then eventually became cracks.  I can actually feel the cracks with the tip of my finger and I can't feel the crinkles.  Neither the cracks nor the crinkles appear to go down into the wood itself.  I'll be shipping the bow to the bowyer to have it refinished.

Bill

[Dave Bulla]

Have not had personal problems with that but have heard talk of problems getting finish to stick to certain tropical hardwoods and I'm pretty sure cocobolo was the primary gripe wood.  I also believe I've heard the remedy was to coat it with thin super glue first to fill the poors and seal the wood before applying standard finish.  I'm sure someone here will know first hand though...

[WildmanSC]

Dave,

Thanks for your response.  I don't know how the bowyer applies his finish, but hopefully it will be done in such a way as to prevent a repetition of the crinkling and cracking.

Bill

[Pack]

I recently had the cocobolo veneers on my recurve start forming small cracks which continued to enlarge.  The bowyer replaced the limbs.  He never told me why he thought they formed, just that he would replace them.

[bentpole]

That's the problem with oily exotic woods. Bocote is another if it isn't completely  dry you will have problems

[ethan]

Wildman, I've done a bunch of bows with oily woods like cocobolo and east indian rosewood. I've not had any trouble with the finish using thunderbird, but I use to spray with fullerplast.  What your describing sounds identical to what I've seen with the fullerplast.  If I had to bet I'd almost guarantee that's the problem.  

Ethan