Clear Finish

[PebblePlacement]

What would be best for a clear finish on my laminated longbow?

I would like a thick "plastic" coating for protection and strength...  Will any product increase draw weight?

Two-Part Epoxy? (pros, cons)
Varathane?  (pros, cons)

What do the professionals use?

[richardzane]

everybody has their favorites here , but it does seem true-oil is choice for many.
I've experimented with boiled linseed oil, Danish oil, and even teakwood oil but in my limited experience I have to say True oil "stays" the best.
the others may be fine for penetrating wood fiber, but they surface dull in time.
I've even heat gunned a persimmon bow treated with true-oil that took too much set, to reflex it,  and it did not blister.
 spar-varnish blisters on arrows when you try to re-straighten with heat.

[PebblePlacement]

Does oil decrease limb resistance?
Does oil effect adhesives?

What do people use to make the thick plasticy coating like i have seen on custom bows?

[Joec123able]

There's no way any finish is gonna raise your draw weight any substantial amount and I think the thick plastic coating your describing is achieved through many many coats of finish but I don't know what kind "professionals" use

[Weylin]

This bow was finished with multiple coats of tru-oil. Is this the type of finish that you're looking for?

[PatM]

 Something like this. http://tbirdarchery.com/Application.htm

[PebblePlacement]

The TBird is a little out of my range right now PatM (and I don't think my bows are at that level yet )
Beautiful finish Weylin!
Do you just wipe on the Tru-oil?  How often do you re-do it?  Does it protect from scuffs and dings?  Cost?

[PatM]

Tru oil is great but likely not what you are looking for. Try the Massey finish technique if you want a thicker plastic coating on a budget.

[richardzane]

actually bought true oil yesterday at an Academy Sports+Outdoors .  $6 for a 3oz. bottle which
is a good amount to experiment with on 4 or 5 bows.

[Weylin]

When you're finished with that bottle you should shop around online. You can find an 8 oz. bottle for a more reasonable price per oz.

[ionicmuffin]

actually you can get a 32 oz bottle for around 10 chachings.  i was shocked and outraged that i payed nearly 12 chachings for 6 oz and barely got more than 3 or 4 bows out of them... go online and do some searches.

[Weylin]

With 32 oz. you're going to run into the problem of having your tru-oil dry up and get gummy before you get to the end of it. Unless you're making 12 bows a month or something.

[Gordon]

If you want a finish like the professionals use, then you need to go with a catalyzed finish like Thunderbird or Fullerplast. The drawbacks are these finishes are expensive to purchase, produce toxic fumes, require spray equipment to properly apply and are a bear to repair. If you are making a lot of bows, then it makes sense to go this route otherwise stick to a finish you can apply by hand like Tru-oil, shellac, or poly. I've never tried the Massy finish so I can't comment on that, but if you go that way wear a ventilator mask and gloves while preparing and applying.

[PebblePlacement]

Great information everybody!!  Thank you all so much.
I think I am going to try the Massey Finish.