Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Taxus brevifolia on January 03, 2019, 10:38:47 am
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#47. It's true, you really can't see your tool marks until AFTER the first coat of tru-oil. AAARRGH!!!!
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Dont' you hate that! It's never happened to me, no sir. ::)
I've learned to use the sunlight to look for small marks, not that you have that in Western Oregon this time of year.
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On your next bow you will see them before oiling :D....
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I read somewhere that mineral spirits will expose the tool marks and dry a lot quicker than the first coat of tung or tru oil. What, exactly, are mineral spirits?
PS I looked it up. Varsol is a mineral spirit. I've got a can of it from my car days. I'll try that on my next bow.
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It think they put tool marks into the cans of tru oil just to annoy bowyers. :o >:( ::) >:D
Del
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Thanks for the tips!
I'm a little smarter than I was last night...
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What, exactly, are mineral spirits?
White Spirit
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+1, Del! That's to prevent interlopers from getting too complacent! It actually hides any tool marks on gunstocks >:D(Not!). Maybe, they have a special blend for Bowyer's sans tool marks! (lol) (lol)!
Hawkdancer
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Wiping a damp cloth/hand/brush reveals most tool marks and dries very quickly
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I tried Varsol on a scrap of Maple. It seemed to show the marks and it dried enough to re-sand in 15 mins.
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Dampen a paper towel. Raises the grain and reveals tool marks. Sand with 220 grit.
Continue until grain is not raised.
Follow with 300, 600 and 700 grit.
Jawge
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Thanks Jawge! I was sitting here reformulating my plan, and there you go doing my work for me.
I've refinished gun stocks with Tung oil, wet sanding with diluted Tung on walnut. I wonder if that's viable with yew...
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You can sand with the wet finish on the bow. When tool marks are gone, wipe down the bow and let dry. Then, proceed with as many reapplications as you want.
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Am I the only one who appreciates some tiny last toolmarks to show off you made that bow by hand? Well... I only use handtools so might as well show it in the finished product ;D
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i use my card scraper all through the process to remove tool marks. By the time I get to sanding there really shouldn't be any tool marks to deal with. As a kid my first job was sanding boat masts made of spruce, after that I worked in several furniture factories and they always start you off in the sanding room. With an oil finish we never went beyond about 400 grit and with urethane type finishes 220 was about as fine as we went.
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i use my card scraper all through the process to remove tool marks. By the time I get to sanding there really shouldn't be any tool marks to deal with.
I thought I was the only one, but I rarely have tool marks to remove at final sanding. I guess this is common with those who rely on the card scraper in the final stages of tillering. It leaves a smooth surface.
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Tool marks are part of my signature! ;D 8)
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You can sand with the wet finish on the bow. When tool marks are gone, wipe down the bow and let dry. Then, proceed with as many reapplications as you want.
I found that it clogs the sandpaper, but I only tried it a couple of times. Am I doing something wrong?
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You can sand with the wet finish on the bow. When tool marks are gone, wipe down the bow and let dry. Then, proceed with as many reapplications as you want.
I found that it clogs the sandpaper, but I only tried it a couple of times. Am I doing something wrong?
Have to keep it wet. Add more finish to keep the paper lubricated.
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Yep, my tool marks are usually gone long before it's time for a finish. Honestly, I don't think I've had a tool mark sneak through since my first bow. Attention to detail and a meticulous finish was drilled into me from the beginning. Thoughtful tool progression is a part of it, as is conscious elimination of them throughout the process, but I check it closely near the end using light and shadows, and with my bows being fully radiused and rounded, it's hard for them to survive, and if they did somehow, they jump right out at me. IMO, tool marks don't make it look hand made, they make it look incomplete, or hastily made.
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I do almost all my tillering with razor blades and sandpaper so my tool marks are easy to get rid of.
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Thanks guys. Chuck I hope you make more vids, especially of working with juniper.