Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Forest_Farmer on May 26, 2014, 06:13:55 pm

Title: What is the best or most common way to mark bow draw weight?
Post by: Forest_Farmer on May 26, 2014, 06:13:55 pm: I just finished my second bow that started as a Osage blank from Matt W. This will be a HS graduation gift for my nephew and I would like to write in the weight and draw on the belly. I've finished the bow with 7 coats of spar urethane. Any suggestions on what to use?

Thx, forest farmer
Title: Re: What is the best or most common way to mark bow draw weight?
Post by: DavidV on May 26, 2014, 07:16:27 pm: India Ink or a woodburner would be my suggestion. Sloppy writing can make an otherwise nice bow look like crap.
Title: Re: What is the best or most common way to mark bow draw weight?
Post by: bubby on May 26, 2014, 07:24:55 pm: I've been using a nib pen and india ink or the have lots of colors, white is great on dark bows and osage as it ages
Title: Re: What is the best or most common way to mark bow draw weight?
Post by: huisme on May 26, 2014, 07:35:57 pm: I usually go with a wood burner on the fade, need to get more India Ink for the times I prefer or need to go that rout. I usually only mark the bottom limb, keeping the limb the archer will be looking at more clear of writing.
Title: Re: What is the best or most common way to mark bow draw weight?
Post by: Loope on May 26, 2014, 10:29:04 pm: Ed,

I got my stuff at a Michael's Art Supply store in the calligraphy section. I bought a pen nib set (wooden handle with a few removable nibs) and some bottles of ink. I have used the india ink (black, permanent, will clog up a fountain pen) and also white acrylic.

After putting a few coats of tru-oil on the bow, I wrote the bow info, let the ink dry, and then added a couple more coats over the top for extra protection. I think it was on PA that I saw the recommendation for white acrylic on osage so that when the wood ages, the white really looks good, and was more visible than black - I haven't tried this yet, but the pictures looked good.

By the way, I recommend practicing on a piece of scrap wood with a similar finish if you have not used a nib pen. They only take a very light pressure compared to a ball point.

Michael
Title: Re: What is the best or most common way to mark bow draw weight?
Post by: Forest_Farmer on May 26, 2014, 11:22:36 pm: Lots of good advise, thanks to all of you. Loope did mention that there was pics posted on PA , does anyone know how to look those pics up of the white ink on Osage? That sounds nice and may try getting some nib pens and India ink or acrylic.
I may even try posting a pic when I'm done, if it doesn't look like it was done by a 1st grader with a crayon.
Thx,
Ed
Title: Re: What is the best or most common way to mark bow draw weight?
Post by: bubby on May 27, 2014, 12:08:14 am: You can get a Speedball nib pen with ink for $6 at mikeals
Title: Re: What is the best or most common way to mark bow draw weight?
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on May 27, 2014, 07:31:49 am: Shoot Ed, I had my marking pen at Marshall. You could have used it there. Its a Nano Liner from a craft shop. Costs about $2 and stays bold and black, plus it will mark on anything.
Title: Re: What is the best or most common way to mark bow draw weight?
Post by: mullet on May 27, 2014, 09:18:51 am: I use fine point, .08 Pentel Slicci pens from Hobby Lobby in gold, silver, and copper. Then I spray a few coats of Poly over it once the pen ink dries.
Title: Re: What is the best or most common way to mark bow draw weight?
Post by: Loope on May 27, 2014, 09:35:02 am: Here is the link to the PA post, hope this works: http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php?topic=35253.0
Title: Re: What is the best or most common way to mark bow draw weight?
Post by: Gordon on May 28, 2014, 01:17:10 am: Industrial Sharpie pen works really well and is easy to use.
Title: Re: What is the best or most common way to mark bow draw weight?
Post by: mikekeswick on May 28, 2014, 04:10:48 am: Quote from: Gordon on May 28, 2014, 01:17:10 am
Industrial Sharpie pen works really well and is easy to use.

I've found sharpies to be a bit of a pain...the nibs are too fat and beware they dissolve in acid catalyst finishes. You can of course use a coat or two of shellac/ca to stop this but Indian doesn't need you to do this extra step.
Title: Re: What is the best or most common way to mark bow draw weight?
Post by: Pappy on May 28, 2014, 08:45:39 am: Same as Gordon, fine tip Mike. ;) :)
Pappy
Title: Re: What is the best or most common way to mark bow draw weight?
Post by: Gordon on May 28, 2014, 09:15:17 am: Quote
the nibs are too fat and beware they dissolve in acid catalyst finishes.

While that is true of regular Sharpie pens, but not the case with Industrial Sharpie pens.
Title: Re: What is the best or most common way to mark bow draw weight?
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on May 28, 2014, 09:28:06 am: Never seen one Gordon. Are they shelved in the same area all the other markers and pens are in the stores?
Title: Re: What is the best or most common way to mark bow draw weight?
Post by: George Tsoukalas on May 28, 2014, 09:46:42 am: I use a fine tip Sharpie. I sign the bow after 3 coats of spar urethane. Then, I give it a coat of polyacrylic. The spar urethane dissolves the marking. Jawge
Title: Re: What is the best or most common way to mark bow draw weight?
Post by: Forest_Farmer on May 30, 2014, 09:36:13 pm: Off to the local Hobby Lobby to buy some stuff. I will post the results later this weekend. Thx to all.
Title: Re: What is the best or most common way to mark bow draw weight?
Post by: Joec123able on May 30, 2014, 10:44:14 pm: Goodole cedar pencil always worked fine for me
Title: Re: What is the best or most common way to mark bow draw weight?
Post by: toomanyknots on May 31, 2014, 01:21:07 pm: They used to use like stamps or something for the older elb, I mean like 1800 - 1900 I think, I have seen a bunch (online) with the draw weight stamped on anyhow. I wish I had some stamps like that.
Title: Re: What is the best or most common way to mark bow draw weight?
Post by: Forest_Farmer on June 05, 2014, 12:47:02 am: Thanks again for all the suggestions.

I looked at the pics that Loope mentioned and really liked the white writting once the Osage aged, so I went for that look. I couldn't get the acrylic archival ink that was mentioned in the article but I did find some artist pens that worked well, are waterproof and chemical resistant. They are called "Jellyroll Classic" bright white ink 0.4mm.

They wrote pretty good over the spar polyurethane finish and then I put 2 coats of spray spar polyurethane over the writting after it sat overnight.

The bow is a HS graduation gift for my wife's nephew. He s good kid and could shoot my bow better than me after shooting it for just five minutes. With any luck I'll have him and his younger brother at the classic next year and cultivate a couple of young primitive archers.

Here are a couple of pics of the bow. It was a Osage billet spliced blank I got from Matt W at this years classic. This is my second bow and got help from Gary Davis on how to put a small flip on the tips without a jig, and help with the tipoverlays from Cody and several others.

My next bow will be one from a Osage stave I harested and split this past winter and I hope to work on it at Elm Hall in a couple months!
Title: Re: What is the best or most common way to mark bow draw weight?
Post by: Carson (CMB) on June 05, 2014, 03:03:21 am: That turned out nice!!!
Title: Re: What is the best or most common way to mark bow draw weight?
Post by: Badly Bent on June 05, 2014, 08:02:05 am: The lettering is top notch Ed, looks great and so does the bow. I bet the nephew will be thrilled with that gift, great work all around. :)
Title: Re: What is the best or most common way to mark bow draw weight?
Post by: H Rhodes on June 05, 2014, 08:35:45 am: Man, that's beautiful workmanship. That whole set is outstanding.
Title: Re: What is the best or most common way to mark bow draw weight?
Post by: Pappy on June 05, 2014, 08:40:12 am: That writing turned out nice as did the bow. Cool. :)
Pappy
Title: Re: What is the best or most common way to mark bow draw weight?
Post by: IdahoMatt on June 05, 2014, 09:39:05 am: That looks great. The nephew should be very happy. I saw June 13 and thought you got me a birthday gift. >:D. Friday the 13 this year. Great gift very thoughtful your going to be the favorite uncle that's for sure :)

Matt
Title: Re: What is the best or most common way to mark bow draw weight?
Post by: Parnell on June 05, 2014, 11:32:50 am: As nice a job as I've ever seen. White looks awesome, hmmm, might have to go that route next time. Great gift!
Title: Re: What is the best or most common way to mark bow draw weight?
Post by: Forest_Farmer on June 05, 2014, 10:37:18 pm: Thanks for the compliments, but I can't take credit for the lettering, that was wife's steady hand. I did do the archer effigy which I modeled from the "easy eye" logo. There is no way I could have put it together without the help from lots of folks on this site, at the TN classic and the Marshall MI event. There are some real talented people here!

Ed
Title: Re: What is the best or most common way to mark bow draw weight?
Post by: Aaron H on June 06, 2014, 08:32:35 am: That is a beautiful bow, especially for just your second time! Well done
Title: Re: What is the best or most common way to mark bow draw weight?
Post by: Aaron H on June 06, 2014, 08:36:04 am: What kind of snake skins you got there?
Title: Re: What is the best or most common way to mark bow draw weight?
Post by: Forest_Farmer on June 06, 2014, 06:35:58 pm: Falcon, They are a couple of Diamond backs that I got from Gary Davis. He does a nice job on matching set up.
Title: Re: What is the best or most common way to mark bow draw weight?
Post by: Forest_Farmer on June 14, 2014, 07:11:00 pm: My nephew "AJ" graduated last night and also received his bow. Here is a Couple of pics of him shooting his first round of arrows. Not bad, 14 yards and 11 of the 12 bit the mark!

Before long we'll be in the woods. Thanks to all who helped out on this bow, he's loves it!!!
Title: Re: What is the best or most common way to mark bow draw weight?
Post by: Forest_Farmer on June 14, 2014, 07:15:58 pm: I'm not sure what I did to the photos when I resized them, but they are kind of messed up. Anyone know a good easy way to resize photos in a IPhone?