Finish to hide tool marks?

[david w.]

Is there a way to hide tool marks?  I have an unfinished bow from last summer that I only need to put finish on.  There are some really bad tool marks that I won't be able to get out without losing a bunch of wieght.  I was not very careful on this one.  I guess I deserve it.

[FlintWalker]

David, you'll probably never be able to hide them without scraping or sanding them out. But enough coats of Tru-oil will level out about anything.

[islandpiper]

In between the layers of finish use a permanant ink marker and write,"My brother in law helped me with this bow"  right beside the tool marks. 

piper

[Hillbilly]

Sandpaper is the only finish that will hide tool marks. Most finishes will enhance them instead of hide them. If they aren't deep gouges that could cause a break or splinter and the bow shoots good, I wouldn't worry about them.

[sailordad]

just tell folks that mention it,thats how you can tell it is a handmade one of a kind work of functioning art

[ricktrojanowski]

Like Hillbilly said, finishes generally enhance tool marks.  One thing you want to do is stay away from anything glossy.  The sheen will magnify any marks.  You might want to put on a tung oil finish then when the last coat tacks up rub it out with a dry cloth to give it a matte finish. If that doesn't work out shoot it at night.

[david w.]

well they wont effect shooting but they are ugly.  I will sand out what I can but leave the rest in.

[Kitsu]

it all really depends, sometimes tool marks can enhance appearance, depends on type of tool in my opinion, example: knife marks can look kind of nice when sanded down a little, but axe marks are just ugly most the time,

post a picture, we could help you more

[Pat B]

Your bow is only as strong as the deepest tool mark. You might as well remove them.   

[adb]

If you're careful, you shouldn't lose more than a pound or two by sanding out the tool marks, as long as they're not too deep. The bow won't shoot any better minus the tool marks, but as we progress in bow building, it's nice to have the end result look nice.

[JackCrafty]

Snakeskin.

Or you can fill and paint.  In any case, if the tool marks are on the back, you'd be better off removing them (as already suggested).

Another option is to scratch up the whole thing, with course sandpaper, and call it a "rustic" finish.