sinewbacking and shellac

[hochgaertner]

Hi,
what do you think, is it a good idea, to coat a sinewbacking (hideglue) with shellac?

Thank you,
Peter

[Pat B]

Peter, an old finish that was used on bows, sinew backed included is French Polish, a mixture of linseed oil and shellac. Shellac is compatable with sinew/hide glue but there are better finishes out there. IMO.

[Bryce]

Won't shellac yellow over time?

[Pat B]

The shellac I use has a yellow tent to it anyway.
 Jay Massey used french polish on his sinew backed bows and he hunted wet Alaska. Eventually he started using what we now call "Massey finish", epoxy thinned with acetone or other solvent.
  I've been real happy using Tru-Oil over sinew backed bows. I use it on most of my bows. To cut the high gloss shine I give the bow a quick spray of satin poly.

[hochgaertner]

Do you think, that the alcohol will attack the glue? I would be glad, to get a yellow colour, if it get´s a smouth surface.
Thank you, Peter

[Bryce]

Ill second the Tru oil. Good stuff. Works good over sinew.

[simson]

Hi Peter,

every flexible coating works. I have sucsessful used shellac and hard-oil. Alcohol does not attack the sinew / hide glue. i have also used the Massey finis, IMO it shoule be a very thin coating, otherwise it does crack.

simson

[Eric Krewson]

Shellac is not waterproof, paint a piece of wood with shellac and leave it out in the rain and see what happens, you will pick another finish in a heartbeat. You want your sinew to stay dry, shellac will only accomplish this task if it stays completely out of the weather.

[paulsemp]

haven't made a sinew bow in a while but I like to use furniture paste wax. Apply a heavy coat on and run your heat gun over it quickly and it will melt into a solid layer. Buff it up with a rag and you are ready to go. I also have been doing the same on all wood bows. Water beads right off.

[hochgaertner]

Thank you for your advice. I have coated three times now and it works. But I will finish with tru oil.
When she´s ready, I will show you my work.

Peter

[ojibwatbowyer]

While the topic is being discussed, what finish or sealent do you guys recommend for the northern minesota area, International Falls area to be specific. I live a few hours north in Canada and love sinew backed bows, but have only used poly to seal my sinew backed bows.