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Author Topic: Burnishing belly?  (Read 3810 times)

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Offline snag

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Burnishing belly?
« on: May 23, 2011, 01:59:24 am »
I thought I had read once that someone recommended burnishing the wood on the belly of the limbs before putting a finish on the bow. Is this correct or I am not remembering correctly? If you are suppose to burnish the limb can you just use a round shanked screwdriver to do this?  Thanks, David
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Offline toomanyknots

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Re: Burnishing belly?
« Reply #1 on: May 23, 2011, 02:05:39 am »
If I'm not doing an oil finish, ill burnish the entire bow with a small glass jar until it is real glossy, then a wax finish on top of that will make it looks real nice.
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"The way of heaven is like the bending of a bow-
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Offline Pat B

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Re: Burnishing belly?
« Reply #2 on: May 23, 2011, 02:32:46 am »
Snag, you can durnish the bow with anything hard and smooth.
  I've never burnished a bow but I think by using a scraper while tillering I'm inadvertently burnishing the wood on the belly.
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Offline Pappy

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Re: Burnishing belly?
« Reply #3 on: May 23, 2011, 08:35:51 am »
If you plan on staining ,do that first.I do it sometimes but not as often asI use to. :)
It does make them slick.  :)   
   Pappy
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Offline crooketarrow

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Re: Burnishing belly?
« Reply #4 on: May 23, 2011, 11:31:46 am »
   There was a time when I barnished the back of white wood bows. Where it's hard to follow a ring (HICKORY) I used a beer bottle, Pappy right stain it first and barnish it then I still wool the barnishing will make it glossy. If you don't finishthe bow first you have to paint it. I had a friend that barnished the whole bow if it was white wood. Never did under stand barnishing the belly.
  When you barnish it,it compress's the wood cell helps to stop splinters raiseing. Will help on short heavy bows or bows that have some sort of defect in the back. And alterent for backing.
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Offline snag

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Re: Burnishing belly?
« Reply #5 on: May 23, 2011, 11:40:31 am »
Sounds like for a 64" osage bow that it isn't necessary especially when using a scraper. I think I'll do it on the back just to add compression on that wood. Thanks, David
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Offline PEARL DRUMS

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Re: Burnishing belly?
« Reply #6 on: May 23, 2011, 11:44:50 am »
I do the whole bow. It cuts the amount of Tru Oil in half when it has less to fill. Some of my best finishes were done on burnished bows.  It only take a few minutes and it cant hurt a thing, might just as well do it.
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Offline snag

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Re: Burnishing belly?
« Reply #7 on: May 23, 2011, 01:25:59 pm »
Well alright! The whole bow it is! Thanks, David
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Offline PEARL DRUMS

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Re: Burnishing belly?
« Reply #8 on: May 23, 2011, 01:52:05 pm »
Osage really looks nice when its done. The grain changes quite a bit David
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Offline toomanyknots

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Re: Burnishing belly?
« Reply #9 on: May 23, 2011, 06:49:48 pm »
"Osage really looks nice when its done. The grain changes quite a bit David"

Ya, osage is the best, burnishes right up to glass. I think it's the resin in the wood that makes it so nice...
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"The way of heaven is like the bending of a bow-
 the upper part is pressed down,
 the lower part is raised up,
 the part that has too much is reduced,
 the part that has too little is increased."

- Tao Te Ching, 77, A new translation by Victor H. Mair

Offline Traxx

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Re: Burnishing belly?
« Reply #10 on: May 24, 2011, 12:24:52 am »
It used to be a standard practice on all self bows.Seems it has been forgotten about,this day n age,as i hear this question asked frequently,on various sites.
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Offline mullet

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Re: Burnishing belly?
« Reply #11 on: May 24, 2011, 12:31:40 am »
I've burnished the belly when one limb would not play right on a bow. It brought the weight up a couple of pounds on the one limb I had trouble tillering even.
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Offline Will H

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Re: Burnishing belly?
« Reply #12 on: May 24, 2011, 12:43:58 am »
I'm really getting in to burnishing or "boning" more and more lately I love it! It really brings out the "fire" in the grain with Osage. I use a shed I picked up a while back thats really polished and smooth...I clamp the bow in my vice and use the antler with two hands much like a draw knife action...I'm not sure if it adds anything structurally to the bow, but the aesthetic benefits are well worth the effort. IMO  :)
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Offline snag

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Re: Burnishing belly?
« Reply #13 on: May 24, 2011, 12:21:45 pm »
It really does bring out the color and grain when burnished. I like it!
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