Bow finishes

[wolfshadow]

Finishing hickory and osage? I'm getting ready to finish 2 hickory and 1 osage.  I've used regular polyurethane in the past.  Works OK n hickory, but what about on the osage?  How long will tongue oil last on osage?  Thanks, friends.

[Stiks-n-Strings]

Most guys use tru oil. I'm gonna start using a massey finish. don't know about tung oil but someone will be along shortly that does.
 
 Poly works fine on osage but not as durable as other finishes IMO

[PEARL DRUMS]

I use Tru Oil on all my bows and Tung oil on my shafts. I am finishing a bow right now with Tung Oil. So far so good. Lots of people finsih bows with Tung Oil already, Im no pioneer!

[briarjumper12]

I've used wipe on poly, tung oil, and tru-oil.  Tru-oil is my favorite.  Just wipe it on with my finger and burnish with steel wool if I want the shine reduced.

[monterey]

The Massey finish is near impervious.  Applying it is tricky though.  The several times I have used it, it came out a bit funny looking from me double wiping it.  Mostly this is a problem of the user and not the finish!

I like tru oil also.  Don't think it has near the moisture resistance that some others have.

[k-hat]

I've used only Teak oil and i love it.  It is mostly tung oil, with a few additives.  It gives the hickory white wood a little color and a nice glow.  Done right, it can waterproof your bow, though i still put wax over it.  Easy application and almost foolproof;)

[vanillabear?]

[PEARL DRUMS]

I use the Formby's brand as well. Never knew there was a diff VB. Thanks for the learnings.

[Adam Keiper]

I've used everything from paraffin to various "oils" to polys to high end Thunderbird Endurance Epoxy sprayed on with an HPLV gun.  As a do-it-yourselfer, though, I've come full circle and prefer Minwax Helmsman spar urethane in the spray cans.  Durable, fast and easy to apply, and no cleanup.  I use 5 or 6 coats of gloss, followed by 2 coats of satin.  Looks smooth and lovely with osage and hickory.

[evildocrsx]

I like to use a mix of 50/50 poly/mineral spirits.  I wipe it on in thin coats.  Very easy to apply.

[Roy from Pa]

I use tongue oil only. The type you wipe on, wait 6 - 7 mins then buff off. Dry 24 hours and recoat. I do 4 or 5 coats. No dust, no runs.

[Shifting Shadow]

I am a rank beginner, but here goes. I have used tung, poly and Tru-Oil. Like poly the best for being tough.

[snag]

I recently read that John Strunk uses 5-7 coats of varathane.

[DVSHUNTER]

Shellac gives a great finish. Very easy to apply, fast drying ( only a few minutes), and is an excellant moisture barrier, and is east to repair if scratched or chipped.