Need advice on applying finish

[Longtoke]

Hey guys I have been dabbling in refinishing bows and trying to figure out the best method. The last one I tried to wipe on oil based spar urethane and was disappointed in the streaks Ieft in the limbs. What about thinning it with denatured alcohol?

I have also heard of finishing with superglue. I have some loctite 420.  I like the idea of using it on the limbs as I imagine it would add an element of strength to the old bow. How hard is this to apply neatly?


My best results have been with truoil but it is very shiny and takes a long time to dry.


What would you guys do? I'm torn myself. Been pondering it for a few days. Thought I would seek advice.

[macbow]

A lot depends on if your just doing a couple for yourself or for others.
I use the tru oil but sometimes it does take a long time to dry.

Mostly on new BBI bows I use rattle cans with some form of poly.

[Bowjunkie]

Shake those ideas out of your noggin, stretch your limbs for a bit, relax, do some yoga, take a deep breath or two, grab the railing above you, and hoist your butt to the next level. Get yourself a professional grade finish and learn to use it. It takes minutes. The results are better and the learning curve on the best stuff is shorter than the inevitable curve on anything less.

[Longtoke]

I just do bows for myself and don't plan on doing a great number.

What are people using to do their professional grade finishes bowjunkie? Hvlp sprayers?

[Wagstaff]

I was NEVER satisfied with any finish until we started spraying Thunderbird Epoxy..

I have not tried it but you might be abe to use it from a "Preval" brand bottle sprayer..

Talk to the folks at Thunderbird for advice on that.

[Bow man]

HVLP sprayer is the best way to go. You can do a good job and you do not need an expensive sprayer. We have one on our website. The Preval Sprayers work we have never used them, I have heard of some having issues others love them.  

If you would like give us a call we would be happy to talk and help you figure it out. 517-617-3658

Archery season opens today here so if you miss us, leave a message we may be in a treestand or running equipment we will get right back to you.

[Bowjunkie]

I don't do a great number of bows either. I use only Thunderbird now, whether I'm refinishing a takedown riser for a friend, or spraying a new bow or two I made.

I've used a cheap touch up gun and air compressor up to this point, but recently bought a cheap, small hplv gun from Harbor Feight that I'll try next.

[macbow]

Once the T bird is mixed and one coat sprayed.
Can the rest be left in the sprayer till the next coat or does it have to be discarded and the sprayer cleaned?

[Bow man]

Ron I would not leave any in gun more than an hour. If you do mix more than you need you can put it in a small jar and put in freezer and then use you may have to ad some more thinner to it at that time, keep in mind adding more thinner can weaken then the finish. We highly recommend just mixing what you need as you spray each coat.

[macbow]

Thanks, once I can work on some bows again I want to upgrade.
Will contact you then.

[Overspined]

Just read the t bird instructions on their site. Use a .8 or 1.0 tip hvlp and use about 40 psi and a small amount of finish to start. More light coats are better than thick heavy coats. Especially with the non-glossy types. Pot life is about a day

[monterey]

What does HVLP mean?

[macbow]

High volume low pressure

[Bow man]

Originally posted by Overspined:
Just read the t bird instructions on their site. Use a .8 or 1.0 tip hvlp and use about 40 psi and a small amount of finish to start. More light coats are better than thick heavy coats. Especially with the non-glossy types. Pot life is about a day

You can use a bigger tip with Gloss, you just need to take more care when spraying. Keep the spray volume down. It is just a little easier to prvent orange peel with the smaller tip