Need a little help with Massey finish

[SEMO_HUNTER]

I was thinking about putting a massey finish over a snake skin and it's already had a few coats of polyurethane semi gloss over it. Do you think the epoxy finish would go on ok over the poly without reacting to it in an adverse way?
I'm going to ask this anyway, but I'm sure the answer is yes. This epoxy finish is flexible when applied over snake skins correct?
I mean, it won't crack or pull up the skin away from the bow will it?

Also, could I use denatured alcohol to thin the epoxy with instead of acetone?

I have the 5 minute 2 ton variety of epoxy and denatured alcohol.

Thanks for any help!  

[Jim Dahlberg]

I'll give you my 2 cents worth.  Been using Jay's finish on everything, bows and natural arrows, since learning about it.  I use Devcon 2 ton epoxy ONLY and acetone ONLY.  Others have tried the 5 minute stuff and plastic epoxy with bad results.  Don't know about denatured alcohol having used the 2 ton and acetone only.  Squirt about 1/3 of the tubes into a pint sized jar, ( I reuse premade salsa type jars) fill the jar to the shoulder with acetone.  Lid and swirl to mix.  Apply with 2"X2" white cotton swab wearing latex or rubber gloves.  Swab on until coating looks "wet".  Then allow to dry before applying next coat.  Usually 10 or more coats for a good hard glossy finish.  I have refinished many old fiberglass bows that had "crazed" finishes with excellent results.  Refinished 1 snake skin backed bow that the finish was coming off of with good results.  Only removed the flaking old finish then applied Jay's finish.
 I usually write bow specs over the finish then spray that with Flecto Diamond spray and put several layers of Massey finish over it VERY lightly so it doesn't eat off the spray finish.  It's worked every time.
Been using this finish for almost 15 years on MANY selfbows mostly osage and many dozens of arrows including sinew wrapped heads and nocks.  Hope that helps.

[SEMO_HUNTER]

Thanks Jim, yes that does help. I think I'll try the small area in the handle section first and see what it looks like because that part will be covered up with the handle wrap anyway. If I like it, then I think I'll go ahead and do the rest.

I'm thinking my epoxy is the Devcon brand, but can't remember since the label came off.

[Jim Dahlberg]

Just a thought, maybe try it on a bare piece of wood to make sure it doesn't "gel" or do something else crazy to make sure it is the 2 ton tube.  I usually buy the 2 ton tubes for less than $4 and you can buy a quart of acetone for around $5.  A jar will usually do 2 bows and a dozen arrows to give you an idea of what it will cover for me.  So about 3 jars full for less than $10.

[SEMO_HUNTER]

I normally use Tru Oil and looked for it every where today and nobody had it, even more places had never heard of it. One guy directed me to the lubrication/oils section......I didn't even try to explain it.    

So I picked up a quart can of Denatured Alcohol, almost got the Acetone but thought I'd try something a little less harsh on the lungs and skin so I went with the DNA instead.

Since I couldn't find my Tru Oil and no time to order some and get it here in time to finish this bow I thought I'd try the Massey finish trick. I've already put about 3 coats of Poly on the bow but it's just not what I expected and seems too thin. Doesn't seem to fill the pores of the snake skin very well, or maybe I'm just too picky?

My biggest worry is an adverse reaction to the poly that's already on the skins. I've got another bow with skins on it that I could try it on first, but it has a Tru Oil finish on it, so the experiment wouldn't be the same.

Dunno, still scratching my head.

[Pat B]

Wipe the old finish with a little alcohol(or acetone if used) to see if they are compatable. Do it in a non conspicious area.
  Make up a small amount of the eopxy, mix it well and add a few drops of the alcohol and see if it acts like a solvent with the epoxy. You will have to mix it up well to get the epoxy into solution.

[SEMO_HUNTER]

Thanks Pat, I think I will try a small test area on the handle where the wrap will cover it just in case it's not what I'm looking for.
Thanks.

[SEMO_HUNTER]

Decided not to risk it.

[BenBow]

I use denatured alcohol with epoxy to spray it and it does a fine job. Here's a picture of one.
   

[SEMO_HUNTER]

Thanks Ben, I'm still going to experiment with it on some scrap material so I know what to expect. I figured that trying it for the first time on a bow that's nearly finished isn't the time to try something totally new.........in other words I chickened out.  

[BenBow]

Not chickening out, just beating frustration!

[SEMO_HUNTER]

With the way my luck goes I don't feel like rolling the dice with a bow finish.