Wipe-on poly or tru-oil

[SOS]

I want to finish a TD laminated longbow I'm building.  Don't have capacity to spray, so which of these two finishes do you recommend?  Have had good luck with the wipe-on poly on wood arrows and other stuff.  Never used tru-oil.  Thoughts?  Steve

[TimZeigler]

There was a great article by Jim Godden in the most recent Bowyers Journal about applying Thunderbird finish by brush.  It was a great write up and one you might find helpful.

[SOS]

Anybody else with an opinion?  TTT

[Shakes.602]

I wait Until Every Step I Take is DRY Then I take My Poly Filled PVC PIPE and DIP Them (With a Drip Tray made of Big Lots Foil, and Let the 1st Dip Dry THOROUGHLY, steel wool if Necessary, Dip another Time, letting the Major Dripping go back into my Pipe before Hanging.
  Make Sure the 2nd Is Completely Cured, and Wool 'em if you Must. Tack Cloth for hangers on from the wool, and let them Cure for a Couple of Days. Then, I take "any type" of Paste or liquid Wax, and got through the Wipe On/Wipe Off until it will almost slide out of the Rag. Done, Except for Fletching.
   I hang my arrows to trip on a clothesline above my Chest Freezer with Good Old Fashioned Wood & Spring Clothes Pins! 1,000,000 To One
 Uses for these little Simple yet I have come to rely on them.
       So, I am Done Blathering!!
              You CAN Do It.

[SOS]

Shakes, ya had me going until you said you were going to fletch them.  You're talking shafts, I'm talking bows...thanks for input any way.  And I second the use of clothes pins, and my hangup space is right near my chest freezers as well.

Steve

[elk ninja]

Steve,
I use wipe on helmsman spar urathain on my bows.  Looks good, brings out the grain and darkens it up some.  BUT, the sinish isn't as smooth as I'd like, it's not bad, just not top notch.  I've also used spray on DEFT on kids bows.  Don't use the DEFT laquer though.  Good luck.
Semper Fi,
Mike

[gordonf]

I've tried several different finishes, but I always seem to come back to Tru-Oil. It is easy to apply, attractive, tough, easy to repair, and I have never had a problem with it.

[Jason Lester]

I usualy use an epoxy finish like the Thunderbird finish as I understand. It is basicaly 5 parts thiner (acetone or denatured alchohol) and one part epoxy (2 ton Devcon)

[Shakes.602]

OOPS!!  Sorry 'Bout that.      It would be Real Nice if I could  READ !! I am kinda Glad to hear I am not the Only one that Uses Wooden Spring Clothespins  AND  Operates Above the Freezer!!
  Oh yea, Feel like a Total Goof 'Bout Now.....   :rolleyes:      

[Bjorn]

I have used Tru Oil and the poly wipe ons. The wipe ons resist scratches and scuffs a bit better but are harder to fix when the scratches appear. Tru oil is way more waterproof than poly wipes. This will show up in those areas where you are holding the bow in your hand in wet foul weather.
Around my area we don't get the bad rainy days often but a few ywars ago we had rain two days in a row, and the so called waterproof poly melted in my hands. So now it is strictly tru oil for my hunting bows.

[wakolbinger]

I stand by tru oil 100 percent. It is the only bow finish I will use...

[Dingus]

Can you use Tru Oil on snake skin backed bows?

If not, what would you recommend?

[SOS]

Wish youse guys had been a little faster on your responses....sounds like I should have used Tru-Oil.  Well, you'll just have to watch the El Cheapo build-along thread to see how it turns out.

[Mr. Vegas]

I didn't know there was a wipe on spar. I have used wipe on poly and with poor results. The wipe on poly cracked bad in the limbs. I googled wipe on spar urethane real quick, and I mean real quick, and found this:  http://thewoodwhisperer.com/?p=129   Not pickin' elk ninja, I was curious myself. I just might give this a try myself

[jdupre]

As much as I disliked TruOil in the past, I've gone back to using it because it is easy to apply and can be touched up. I have found a way to get better coverage in fewer coats. I wipe on a fairly heavy coat with a soft cloth wrapped around my finger. I do this while holding the bow in front of a small box fan. I keep rubbing a small area until the finish gets tacky and move to another area. When I have gone over the entire bow, I go over the whole bow again using the same procedure. I can usually get a good filled finish in 3- 5 coats.

Joey

[Lost Arra]

Mr Vegas: Regular Helmsman Spar Urethane can be wiped on for the first coat. It takes a while to dry. It doesn't take additional coats well but I've put regular Wipe-on after that with good results. I use the same thing on arrows.

I also use tru oil but it's a little glossy for me.