Newly made bow preservation (boiled linseed oil?)

[okiecountryboy]

I am about half done with my first bow. Wondering what to preserve it with. I have always used boiled linseed oil on gun stocks. What do you think? Is there something better? It's redoak if that matters...Need your knowledge........

Thanks

[Pat B]

Linseed oil is a good wood oil but takes a while to dry and needs continuous applications. Tru-Oil a gun stock finish and a linseed oil product is one of the most popular wood bow finishes.

[okiecountryboy]

Thanks. I'll check it out. still taking more info...

[Josh]

on my red oak bows i use minwax stain (usually the antique walnut) followed by 5 to 7 coats of tru oil rubbed in by hand.  I really like the tru oil alot, it dries in around 2 or 3 hours for the next coat. 

[Benvse]

I have been using tung oil.  It takes several applications but it works for me.

[Aries]

on my osage bows ill usually put down 3 coats of linseed oil. i wait 10-15 min between applications and whip off extra on surface of the wood before each coat and seal with shellac or spray clear coat  after all has dried. they usually shine like a diamond in a goats a$$ after that . GL.    Ty

[Hillbilly]

A couple of my first bows I finished with linseed oil, and in my opinion, it's about as effective at keeping moisture out of a bow as wrapping a piece of window screen around it would be. Tru-oil, spar urethane, or bear grease have all worked well for me. Paraffin wax is supposed to be a good finish. I've never tried it, but will soon.

[George Tsoukalas]

I've never felt that Tru Oil, which is linseed oil and a hardener,  offered enough protection in a rain storm but it is a great sealant for the wood pores in osage. Osage bows get 3 applications of Tru Oil followed by 3 of spar urethane.  Whitewood bows get stained either with Rit in alcohol or some other stain. I use water based stain. Hickory bows get the Rit in alcohol. The finish coat is 3 applications of spar urethane. When I want to go primitive I use grease heated in with a hair dryer or grease gun. Jawge

[okiecountryboy]

THANKS FOR ALL THE HELP  YA'LL ARE GREAT

OKIE