Does shellac work over tru oil for finish?

[Patches]

I just finished a hedge bow, and have put 5 coats of tru oil on it.  I was wanting to put something on there to make it more water resisitant, but I read that polyurethane does not work with tru oil.  Does anyone know if shellac will stick to tru oil so that I can get a water resistant finish?  Does anyone have any suggestions other than shellac?  Thanks for any help.

[RBLusthaus]

I would recommend a couple extra coats of the tru oil and then put some wax over the top.  Forget the shellac. 

But to answer your Q - - yes, I think shellac would stick just fine -  it sticks to everything else.  -  but I don't think it is a very water resistant finish.  I use shellac as my only finish on kids bows as it is easily touched up and applied by kids. 

Russ

[osage outlaw]

I use satin polyurethane over tru-oil on my hunting bows to cut the shine.  It seems to stick just fine.

[Josh]

in my experience, shellac sticks to anything. I mainly use tru oil as my finish and lay down a few coats of shellac before the tru oil.  On my bows I do as Osage Outlaw does to cut the shine on my hunting bows with a few coats of satin poly after applying the tru oil.  Seems to work fine for me.

[Patches]

Thanks for the information everybody.  I was wanting to cut the shine down too, and had thought about the satin polyurethane, but what I read said it would not stick.  I will give it a try.  Its my first osage bow that I have finished and I didn't want to screw it up.  I am taking her humting with me this weekend so I was wanting to get her done soon.  Thanks!

[Josh]

i usually prep the tru oil finish by lightly rubbing it with 0000 steel wool first and then apply the satin poly.  I have done this to over 10 bows with no problems yet. 

[PEARL DRUMS]

The same company that makes Tru Oil makes a product called Gun Stock wax. I suggest rubbing a good share of that on the bow and skip any other sealers, unless you want to knock the shine down as the Josh's mentioned. Water beads right up. I rub a coat on all my bows and arrows just prior to season and again just prior to summer gatherings time. Works on handle leather as well.

[Pat B]

I put satin spray poly over the Tru-Oil finish on all my bows and have for quite a few years. It works great and I have never had a problem with adhesion or compatability.

[JonW]

Isn't Tru-Oil a combination of shellac and linseed oil? Seems like I heard that somewhere.

[Auggie]

I like rubbing bees wax over truoil,dulls the shine and repels water.

[Tom Leemans]

Shellac works under about everything, so I don't know why it wouldn't work over anything. That said, I usually rub the occasional coat of "stock sheen" over my tru-oil finishes, just like if I were caring for a beloved shotgun.

[George Tsoukalas]

Osage bows get 3 coats of Tru Oil to seal up the pores followed by 3 of spar urethane. Jawge

[mullet]

You can put the urethane over the Truoil but you can't put Truoil over the urethane, if I remember right.

[Gordon]

I use shellac as a primer coat under Tru-Oil all the time. But I've not tried it the other way around though I supose it would work. If you want to cut down the sheen of a Tru-Oil finish rub it out with fine steel wood (or a synthetic) and then pumice powder mixed with vege oil - that will give you a really nice satin finish.