Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Around the Campfire => Topic started by: bushboy on August 11, 2013, 08:04:24 pm

Title: bear grease
Post by: bushboy on August 11, 2013, 08:04:24 pm
I was gifted a jar of b/g and remember some one talking about sealing bows with the stuff ,just wondering how it's applied or is it mixed with something else?thx's
Title: Re: bear grease
Post by: Hillbilly on August 11, 2013, 09:04:53 pm
Works fine just like it is. Just rub it in-several light coats and let it soak into the wood instead of heavy greasing all at once. Getting the bow warm first will help. With bear grease or any other animal fat, it's a good thing to hit it with more from time to time, especially if you're out in the weather hunting a lot. If it's rendered right, bear grease will be pretty much liquid at room temp, and like lard if you chill it in the fridge. It's good stuff. Workes great to waterproof leather boots also, and even makes good biscuits. A friend of mine was rendering some on his deck and spilled part of a pot-it beaded up water on that corner of the deck for years, long after the Thompson's water seal was gone on the rest of the deck.
Title: Re: bear grease
Post by: madcrow on August 11, 2013, 09:28:07 pm
I set my bows and arrow shafts out in the sun for a while to warm them, that way I don't get them too warm and have to go back and fix something.
Title: Re: bear grease
Post by: Pat B on August 12, 2013, 12:09:38 am
I've got a yew bow that has only hand rubbed bear grease for a finish. Hand rubbing heats up the wood(and your hand)  and that allows the bear grease to sink in.
  You can mix it with some bees wax and pitch and make a nice leather dressing like mink oil or Montana Pitch Blend...but with bear grease.
 I keep mine sealed in a Mason jar in the "other" frig and take out what I need when I need it. Its more than a year old by now and still good.
Title: Re: bear grease
Post by: bushboy on August 12, 2013, 12:51:37 am
Thx's 4 the info guys!
Title: Re: bear grease
Post by: Buffalogobbler on August 12, 2013, 10:42:42 am
I just finished the bow that I used for my Alberta bear hunt last May with bear grease. Warm the bow a little bit in the sun(if it's osage it will start to darken the bow) or I used the heater in my shop, be careful with the heater, you don't want to dry the wood out, just warm it up a bit, it helps the wood soak up the grease. then take some grease on your fingers and rub it in. then hang the bow from a string attached to the celing about a yard or so from heater for about a half hour, you dont want it to get hot, just keep it warm so the grease can soak in.Then take it down and wipe the excess of with a paper towel or cloth.When I applied the grease and when I wiped it clean I rubbed it vigorously trying to push as much grease as possible in to the pores of the wood. I did this several times to give the bow several coats. water beads up nicely on the bow.Keep the grease in your fridge and apply as needed afterwards.

Kevin
Title: Re: bear grease
Post by: wildman on August 13, 2013, 12:10:06 pm
I use it on my flintlocks also.