Author Topic: Re-finishing a bow: Dwyer Original LB Complete ! (Read 392 times)

Gordy · « **on:** March 17, 2010, 11:51:00 AM »

Thought I'd share a little before, during and after here. Dwyer original, 68", 61.25@28.
Re-finishing is a great way to get to know a bow... and I always enjoy the change, and process.

Here's the bow as I purchased it off a gang member 2 or 3 years ago.

Here it is after sanding, with a little bit of stain to help make the grain pop. Notice the color change. Shedua (?) becomes almost cocobolo color. Curly maple grains pop like crazy, and the gold accent stipes in the arch are lots goldier.

The stain is based off minwax golden oak...secret formula. So secret....I forgot. (I think I added some dark oak.... a long time ago)

But the plain old gold oak is a great starting point.
I'm going to let it dry for a few days before starting on the sealing.
Will keep ya posted !

23feetupandhappy · « **Reply #1 on:** March 17, 2010, 12:55:00 PM »

Man that looks nice!

Lamey · « **Reply #2 on:** March 17, 2010, 05:34:00 PM »

looks good! post some pics of the back/belly.

yamaharider · « **Reply #3 on:** March 17, 2010, 05:43:00 PM »

Worth the effort for sure. Nice

lpcjon2 · « **Reply #4 on:** March 17, 2010, 05:56:00 PM »

Looks really good!

frassettor · « **Reply #5 on:** March 17, 2010, 07:12:00 PM »

Nice job!

Bucksnort101 · « **Reply #6 on:** March 18, 2010, 10:51:00 PM »

Looking good.

sentinel · « **Reply #7 on:** March 19, 2010, 01:37:00 AM »

Looks really nice. I look forward to seeing some other pictures when it's complete.

scottm · « **Reply #8 on:** March 19, 2010, 04:45:00 AM »

very nice!

Gordy · « **Reply #9 on:** March 22, 2010, 12:39:00 PM »

Here we are a few days later with a few coats of tru-oil on her.
Now is when it gets interesting and real fun.
Here you can see the pores are filling up. I'm doing a coat per day and now rubbing with 000 wool in between.

Here are the limbs, but the angle and flash really aren't doing them justice. Will try and get some outdoor/sunshine pics next update.

One of the caveats of doing the stain, is that I've lost some sharpness in the awesome dwyer tips since the curly maple isn't a veneer. I'm ok with that.

We're getting there, and with each coat, the bow looks and feels better and better.
Now is when I get real careful about dust and boogers.
Light wipe with acetone (real light), let dry, then tack-cloth before next application.
The cool part about tru-oil is, that if you get a run, leave-off mark or a booger on there. Just nail it with some 320grit, rub it a bit with the 000 or 0000 wool...and keep goin !
Ya really can't screw it up. :D

ron w · « **Reply #10 on:** March 22, 2010, 07:21:00 PM »

At first I thought why is he refinishing that bow it looks good to me. Then the new photos after you stained,holy cow, that maple just jumps out at you. Real nice job. That bow is gonna be a real beauty!

gordie · « **Reply #11 on:** March 22, 2010, 07:45:00 PM »

looking good...i gotta try true oil.

Gordy · « **Reply #12 on:** March 22, 2010, 08:12:00 PM »

Ron, the bow was in need. Not used too hard, but the lower tip was in need of attention and I'd used her pretty good the last couple years. Just wish I could actually shoot a longbow as well as a recurve !
Man ... this last coat is looking sweet. Gonna have to wait a day or two to update ya though !

Starting to look like a professionals bowling ball ....which makes it hard to dull or satin spray for final finish.

gordie - go for it, be patient and you'll really feel the reward. Love the tru-oil !

Thanks for the comments all. I've got a 65' herters in process too, that's shaping up real nice. Haven't tried this on arrow shafts yet, but I'm thinking it would be a looker.

Whip · « **Reply #13 on:** March 22, 2010, 08:14:00 PM »

Very nice Gordy!

Gordy · « **Reply #14 on:** March 23, 2010, 08:12:00 PM »

Ok, here we are a couple days later. the pores are filled in. Things could be considered 'done', but I know better things are ahead.

I've got a lot of free time, so things have been moving fast. Once the pores are filled and the coats come quick it's easy to build up fast. Tonight I've felt the finish as a bit soft ... so after the rub down, I'm going to let it sit and cure a bit.

This is after hitting the limbs with 600 grit to get rid of some leave-off finger marks and then a light rub with 0000 steel wool.
Final updates coming.

Thanks again for the comments. Hope this is helpfull to someone.

SL · « **Reply #15 on:** March 23, 2010, 08:35:00 PM »

Question- Did you have to sand all the finish off before applying the tru oil?, or just evenly sand the existing finish.
SL

Gordy · « **Reply #16 on:** March 23, 2010, 10:54:00 PM »

SL - In this case I did sand the original finish off entirely.
But you can just add this product to existing finish with some light sanding.

I have an old Herters recurve that had some damage to the limb finish and I did exactly that. A little blending sanding and then start applying.

Not saying it's a cure all, but it is a fine finish for unskilled craftsmen like me.

SL · « **Reply #17 on:** March 25, 2010, 06:52:00 PM »

Thanks Gordy.
I have one I may try that on.
SL

Gordy · « **Reply #18 on:** April 06, 2010, 04:35:00 PM »

Here it is after many coats of tru-oil, with a frosty finish of semi-gloss spar urethane. (2 coats)

It's cloudy out for another day or so, but I'll try and get some pics in the sun, with it strung up soon.

Now..on to the next 'victim' !

Bucksnort101 · « **Reply #19 on:** April 06, 2010, 09:53:00 PM »

Very nice. How longs the wait for bow refinishing work these days;)


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Author Topic: Re-finishing a bow: Dwyer Original LB Complete ! (Read 392 times)

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