HELP ! Refinishing a bow

[STOBBER]

I gotta G@L Mantis that i want to re-finish. Someone had refinished it before me and applied a poly urethane finish while the bow was in in very cold conditions....the finish "orange peeled" and could be removed using the corner of a hardwood block to avoid scratching the clear glass .Most of it came off in large flakes without any resistance, however..in the riser/ handle area the finish is a lot tougher to remove  :confused:  
   (1)What solvent would work best to loosen the finish?
(2)Will the solvent affect my lamination glue?
(3)Can i soak it in the solvent or do i just brush it on ?
(4)Will a fine grade steel wool affect my glass?Thanks in advance for any wisdom concerning this dilemma !
This is my only bow at the moment and a mistake will be fatal to my hunting season!.
Tim

[insttech1]

Don't soak it in solvent; that will penetrate and overly dry the wood.

Just gently sand that stuff out with about 240 grit...

Don't steel wool either...the fine pieces can embed themselves in pores, etc...

You can sand that entire bow--lightly!!--including the glass just enough to prep it for a re-spray...and if done patiently, it will look like a pro job.

It's not that hard...trust me.

Do a search on Tradgang for Border and "bastard" and you'll see how I redid a complete Border Black Douglas riser, from taking a file to it, thru final sanding, and then had it re-sprayed.

Just be patient, patient, and patient.  If it gets nerve-wracking, or you get worried, just put it down for the day and come back the next.

It'll be alright...

Take Care,
Marc

[STOBBER]

Thanks Marc......i'll try that.
I knew that the solvent could have some bad side effects so i wanted to be careful.
Will the sand paper make the glass hazy?
Thanks
Tim

[insttech1]

Yup...it'll most definitely haze the glass.  You can finish the glass up with maybe something up to 280 or 300 grit...and it'll clear right back up once resprayed.

Did you find that post?

[insttech1]

Well hmmm...now I can't find that post...I think admin may have cleared it out.

It was from early spring last year...

I'll let you know if I find it...
M

[Ga.boy]

Tim, other than the finish problems, is she still shooting well for you? She is a quick and smoothe bow, and I miss her, but I love the stick! Getting a new handle wrap put on her this week I hope.  
Bet she'll be a beautiful when ya get her refinished. Please post pictures when you are done.

[STOBBER]

Oh heck yeah, she shoots sweet, i am very satisfied with her. Hoping to put a canebreak skin job on her this season. Gotta bud of mine bringing me a skin that's big enough fer both limbs. I usually catch my own but havent had any luck this year.
Glad to hear the Stick is workin' fer ya! Kinda miss her too!
Hows the Canedragon and the Osage doin?
All of them shoot well for me..used the same arrers in all three bows.
Thanks
Tim

[STOBBER]

Marc, thanks bud!
Just went and got me some sanding paper...i'll start sweatin 'her out in a few minutes.

[STOBBER]

Marc
I got the bow done this afternoon and it looks fantastic....i even suprised myself.Started with 150 grit, then 230and ended with 330.Sprayed 4 coates of Minwax Satin urethane.I didn't want the shine of a gloss finish on my hunting bow.    
It look so good that i got my son's ol' Ben Pearson Cougar out and did it also....before i started it looked like death warmed over...he let it get pretty bad...he's 17yr.old...need i say more. Anyways...it looks like a new bow, cant wait till he see's it.
I really appreciate the help!
Wish i had pic capabilities so i could show off a little!
Tim