Painting (camo) a bow

[caihlen]

All,

I own a Martin ML - 10 and I just love it.  It's a bit garish however and I've considered painting it darker (camo)  Can I do this without hurting the bow?  Are there other considerations I need to be aware of?  Thanks in advance for any advice (including if necessary don't be a moron)

Ken Campbell
Ferndale, MT

[Night Wing]

What do you mean when you say the bow looks....."garish"?

[caihlen]

Shiny and bright with a factory finish...my thinking about stealth leads me to conclude that it needs to be covered up at the least to hide the glare and bright wood...

[bryan r]

I have nothing against painted bows, but have you thought about using a fine steel wool to dull down the glare/shine? I would go that route and see what you think before trying a rattle can.

[cbCrow]

I shot a ML 10 for years, I used Johnson paste wax as a anti glare. Before your hunt just apply some to all shiny surfaces and don,t wipe off till your done.

[jsweka]

Please don't paint a bow    

- Just one man's opinion.

[mahantango]

I have done that, kind of as a last resort to a couple of really beat-up, or just plain butt-ugly, no real value, but good shooters. If it was my ML10, I'd dull it down with 0000 steel wool or scotch-brite, or refinish with a matte or satin poly. JMO

[ron w]

I have painted bows in the past. It's no big deal. Just don't go heavy with the paint ,so if you want to remove later it's easy.

[cacciatore]

I had the same problem hunting with vintage Bear bows at times.
I think a bow sock/skin is great easy to pull off for hero pics,fast to pull on again.

i love camoed everything,...but..i love the natural look of wood too, it wont hurt the bow any...so its your call,(to paint or not to paint)

   or you could use some limbskins,camo tape,limbsations from onestringer are pretty cool too.

[John Scifres]

I kinda like camoed bows.  Here's how I did one a few years back.  Camo Bow

[Bill Carlsen]

Try some of the camo tape....the cloth tape, not the vinyl.

[cuboodle]

I want to paint or dip my Hoyt buffalo riser but can't decide

[Lostaro]

I used Krylon also. Comes in great flat camo colors and holds up well. Definitely makes your bow look like a hunting tool. Not saying I will paint just any bow. Don't want to hide any good looking wood. As stated before, a light coat is reversible.

[Charlie Lamb]

Sometimes I use a gray Scotch Brite pads to take the shine off of a bow and other times I paint them with different colors of flat paint.

They always get treated one way or the other for hunting season and either works fine and is pleasing to my eye.  
They also always get cleaned and polished to bring up the shine again. Just because I love the high polish once in a while.

This bow has been painted and dulled up more times than I can count.
   

[Charlie Lamb]

FYI... It's almost impossible to wear through most bow finishes with steel wool or reasonable grit Scotch Brite pads.

[chanumpa]

Years ago I camoed the limbs on my Martin Hatfield that has red elm limbs to deshine for close up hunting (mostly elk).Have no regrets asIt could be removed,however wont be as it will be with me untilI die.
You could look at those bow limb covers(sticker that "Onestringer" sells.Hes got some really cool ones.
Another trick when you are hunting something is just use a bit of face paint on them and you can wipe it off when you feel like it.It will dull it down,and break it up.Good Luck

[rholzie]

or...you can go to your local ---mart or hardware store and get a can of "Plasti Dip". I use it every year on my bows. It is a spray on rubber coating that looks awesome! At the end of the season I simply peel or rub it off with my thumb/fingers! I like the natural woods of my bows throughout the rest of the year when I do most of my shooting. Does'nt affect the finish on my bows at all! Works for me!

[chanumpa]

Great idea rholzie.

[joekeith]

Good lookin' camo job Charlie.    
Don't forget adding some snake skins if ya like 'em, they're great camo.
I've used the limbsations too, they work great too.  Have fun and make it personal with your own camo.  Good luck...