Afraid I made a terrible mistake

[non-typical]

I would put it on the bow rack and let it set for a spell then while you are waiting order 2, 3 or 4 more bows just to have on hand that you can compare it to for color change. Least that's what I'd tell my wife if it was me...

[Bill Tell]

I would make sure I talk to 3 rivers.  If the finish is delaminating you will get bubbles underneath and it will look like it has different coloration.  I don't want to panic you but when resin separates it kinda looks like what you describe.  If you push on the spots do they get bigger?

[TheFatboy]

It's not spots, just change in color, and then the wood browned a few places.

I wouldn't be worrying if it the wood was just darkening, but it really doesn't look too good.

Shawn from 3 Rivers just responded and told me that I shouldn't be using any harsh chemicals with solvents. But the wax I used contains solvent. I still don't see how this can be an issue, when the wax is made for protectimg wood and leather.

[TheFatboy]

It's not spots, just change in color, and then the wood browned a few places.

I wouldn't be worrying if the wood was just darkening, but it really doesn't look too good.

Shawn from 3 Rivers just responded and told me that I shouldn't be using any harsh chemicals with solvents. But the wax I used contains solvent. I still don't see how this can be an issue, when the wax is made for protectimg wood and leather.

[TheFatboy]

Silly doublepost.

[twotimer]

bottom line,if i had just purchased a new bow,and things had happened as you described,i would contact customer service were it came from,tell them i was unhappy,send it back and get another or a refund.you will never be satisfied with it,and always wonder about what is going on with the finish,lams,ect.in passing,i purshased a ilf bow with an aluminum film dipped riser,had some discoloration after glueing on a strikeplate nad rug rest,mentioned it while making a different order,they insisted on sending me another riser,even when i told them it was no big worry to me,as it was camo colored anyway.point is,thats what the warranty is for.regards,robert          

[GMMAT]

True, twotimer...

But I also think consumers should be responsible for their own actions.  No offense...but I think I'd ask before I put ANYTHING on my bow (especially a compound containing a solvent).

If it were me.....I'd call them and tell them exactly what I did.....and ask them for their recommendation.  Might need to be sanded and re-sprayed.

[TheFatboy]

I quote Shawn from 3 Rivers Archery:

"You have to understand that the wood for the limbs is sealed between two
psc's of fiber glass and then 3 coats of clear on top of that. What you
are doing is smearing or even taking off the clear coat on the bow by
using the mineral spirits and turpentine. You can not use the wax and
turpentine on that kind of bow to clean it. Use only soap and water or a
furniture polish to clean the  bow. If you continue to use  the products
that you are using you will ruin the clear coat."

 :(

[Tater John]

WOW! Mineral spirits? Turpentine? Thats bad ju-ju...

You better do as Shawn says and stop doin' that cause your cutting the finish off

Rusty

[Tater John]

In an effort to get your mind away from what it sounds like you did, the bow isn't ruined. The 3 coat finish, whatever it is, is probably less than 8-10 mils. thick total. Not much there. Its really a 'finish coat' and probably a satin which is between gloss and flat. The fiber glass itself is the protection for the veneers and core of the bow. You'd have to get some pretty tough chemicals to eat the glass and resins. Mineral spirts or turpentine ain't going to cut it!

 Shoot the bow and enjoy it. In the mean time start boning up on how to put a fresh finish coat back on your bow, its really simple to do. Ask Shawn what the top coat is that was put on your bow from the bowyer, very lite finish sanding with maybe 600 grit to give the next coat something to bite to and spray another coat over what this there. It will even everything back to the uniform look you originaly had I'm sure.

Rusty

p.s. Practice on scrap first  

[joevan125]

Pack the bow up and send it back and let them take a look at it. I dont know anybody involved in trad archery that wouldnt go out of there way to help you and i bet there no different.

[TheFatboy]

Tater John: Thank you for all the info! I was very afraid that the wood and fiberglass had taken irreversible damage. Very happy to hear, that this can all be fixed. You soothened my troubled heart  

[GingivitisKahn]

I'm confused.  The first post mentioned changing colors after using a damp rag.  Now it appears you are using some sort of compound that contains solvents and / or turpentine.  Lol - what the heck?

For those that recommend returning the bow - how on earth is that a 3Rivers problem?  If someone buys a car and decides to clean it with a belt sander, is that the fault of the auto dealer?  If you buy a steak and burn it while grilling, is that the fault of the butcher?

I'm with one of the previous posters - I'd stop coating the bow with stuff it obviously doesn't like and try to enjoy shooting it.  Heck, perhaps the altered (and apparently somewhat mottled) appearance will help camouflage you and your weapon.

[TheFatboy]

I wiped it off with a moist rag. It turned dark, even when I wiped the moist off again. Silly as I was, I feared that I had done something that I shouldn't have. So I did something that I definetely NOT should have done. Waxed it with a furniture wax, which happened to contain solvents and turpentine. Two things that I didn't know would harm the bow. After all, it was furniture wax. But I'm smarter now.

[James Wrenn]

Well I don't know what kind of finish they use but it must not be fullerplast.None of that stuff will touch an epoxy finish.Sounds like soft laquer or poly to me.

[TheFatboy]

I wouldn't know either James. I'll ask though.

[Jedimaster]

The fiberglass is on the front and back of the limbs.  Moisture can still be absorbed on the sides of the limbs if the finish is missing.  It seems to me that it would take a considerable amount of wetness to do that - like a deliberate soaking.  

I'm sure that you in no way harmed the fiberglass on front and back.  You might have damaged the finish but that's hard to tell without seeing.  Any real damage from water would have to be absorbed from the sides of the limbs.  Don't look for just darkening (that's subjective and you're looking at the bow with a more critical eye now than you did before) but also look for signs of delamination which could be bubbles or light colored spots that appear between the clear glass and the bamboo.  Make sure any dark "spots" are not just color variations in the bamboo but are truly inconsistent with the rest of the limbs composition.

These bows are not that sensitive.  They can take quite a bit of hard use including exposure.  Unless there is a manufacturer defect you'd almost have to try to cause the type of damage we're discussing.  

In the end, if it bothers you pack it up and send it back for their inspection.  It would be worth the cost of shipping to have a legitimate eye of inspection.  You probably won't be happy until you do.

[tmccall]

Originally posted by Jedimaster:

In the end, if it bothers you pack it up and send it back for their inspection.  It would be worth the cost of shipping to have a legitimate eye of inspection.  You probably won't be happy until you do.

Good advice.

[Stone Knife]

Was it water or something else that you used on it?

[TheFatboy]

Jedimaster: That's just not as simple as it may sound. I live in Denmark. That's across the Atlantic. But I will definetely look for bubbles or light colored spots  

Stone Knife: Not exactly. I moisted it with a rag, and immediately thought that it was a bad move. So I waxed it, and later found out that the wax hurt the finish.