Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: BowEd on November 03, 2016, 11:36:40 am
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I was wondering what type water proofing or kind of finish people might like to put on rawhide backed bows.
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I put shellac on mine...havent weather tested mine much tho.
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I stain, then apply multiple coats of Tru oil, and then wax. The stain is usually absorbed by the hide in a non uniform manner, leaving a camo type effect. You will either like the look - or not. Do a test on a sample piece.
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I like the look of tung oil,, but a good poly finsih is probabl more weather proof,,
spray it on ,, and then put wax on to tone the shine down,, leave the wax thick for bad weather,,
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I like tung or danish oil.
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Tru-Oil just like any bow.
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Thanks.The reason for asking is that I know most things get absorbed by the rawhide darkening it some from working with rawhide and leather in the past.Whether it compromises adhesion of the TB 3 glue has crossed my mind too.
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Also too thick of a finish could really cause it to crackle some from bending.
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i have never had poly or tung oil crackle,,
I have thought that the tung oil might comprise the glue,, but have no proof,, just thinking to much
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Tru oil and satin poly for last coat to cut the shine, never had a problem and have done a bunch. Pappy
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Thanks.The reason for asking is that I know most things get absorbed by the rawhide darkening it some from working with rawhide and leather in the past.Whether it compromises adhesion of the TB 3 glue has crossed my mind too.
I really like Tru-oil for the way it soaks in just a touch and then sets. It doesn't actually penetrate anywhere near down to the glue-line
You'd probably need to be using a totally non-setting finish for that to happen.
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Well I've tested bees wax/tru oil/ and lacquer.Beading water up on all of the finishes.To tell the truth I think I'll use a combination.Lacquer and then a paste wax buffed out over that.Nothing but wood underneath this rawhide project.No sinew involved.
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I've only backed one bow with rawhide, and sealed everything with poly. That was 15 years ago and it still looks good.
Several years back I did a little research on tung oil. Chances are, what we find in hardware stores sold as tung oil is likely a mixture of poly, linseed oil and turpentine--or something similar. Pure tung oil is pretty expensive and not readily available.
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ok Ed,,, I repair some african drums sometime,, well its rawhide head,, the african guys will put super glue on the whole head,, they say it makes it stronger,, so I tried it on a rawhide back and then sprayed with poly,,, so far so good,,, :)
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Beadman: what kind of lacquer do you use? urushi?? shellac?
hope's tung oil is not that expensive on amazon. advertised 100% pure tung oil. It's what I have. Maybe I should buy more in case it ever runs out O_o Sigh.
Screw poly. Shellac! The real stuff, maybe from button lac, not the cans. But I've never seen it on rawhide? But I have definitely seen it on sinew. So.
finally I write with the tiniest personal experience, rather than out of random stuff I've read. I bought a can of spray-on poly and regretted it. Freaking thing could explode or god knows. I could just use newspaper around whatever I'd spray, but then that newspaper could spontaneously combust... besides, I bet it would smell awful. Eh, I guess brush-on poly might not be so bad, but why use it if shellac probably works just as well, looks better, and is more 'primitive'?
I got a can of shellac. Not that good I guess.
Then I got button lac. Took a few hours to dissolve in denatured alcohol. Applied it on my hornbow. Seems legit.
But denatured is nasty stuff... how to get pure ethanol..
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Pat M, I like the way it soaks in and gives uneven coloration. Makes a cool design and adds camo.
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Yes there are some good things to be done with rawhide on the back of a bow I'd say.Thanks for the experienced suggestions.I'm still not totally settled on what type of finish yet.Meaning waterproofing.Best that can be done is water resistant anyway.Guess most times out shooting or hunting if it rains hard enough everyone goes in any way.
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well,, if you really want to waterproof the bow,, painting the whole thing with exteior paint would probably do that the best,, might not look the best,, but it will waterproof it,, :) or putting it in a dip tube like you would an arrow,,
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Yes I know.Thanks.Don'y really want to paint it either.Not very artistic in that regard to my liking.I think I'm gonna try multiple thin layers of lacquer from a spray gun.Sanding inbetween etc.See what happens with that once.I'll get something done to it anyway.If it survives the final tillering and shooting in later.It all takes time.
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There always is the option yet for snake skins over top of rawhide.
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I would bet that the sprayed on lacquere out of the spray gun would work in my exspereince spray guns can put down micro thin layers almost invisible even layers I don't think you would get crackling but have only sprayed wood , I did have a problem one time with moister from the compressor got passed the filter.
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What about a Massey finish?
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I've found a Massey finish to be difficult to apply to large areas. It might just be my technique. I like to soak hemp handle wraps with Massey finish, though.
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Massey finish....Is that like super glue and an adjuvant?Shellac and something else?..........???
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Epoxy and a thinner
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Correct, 2 part epoxy and acetone