« previous next »
Pages: [1] 2

Author Topic: Bow Almost Finished  (Read 2479 times)

0 Members and 3 Guests are viewing this topic.

Offline woodswalker

  • Member
  • Posts: 51
Bow Almost Finished
« on: December 07, 2013, 03:46:15 am »
Almost done with my little osage. Was wondering about sealing it. Is it Tru Oil that is used for this or is it something else.
Logged

Offline Bryce

  • Global Moderator
  • Member
  • Posts: 3,125
  • Pacific Ghost Longbows
Re: Bow Almost Finished
« Reply #1 on: December 07, 2013, 03:50:59 am »
Tru oil is the good stuff.
Logged
Clatskanie, Oregon

Offline Pat B

  • Administrator
  • Member
  • Posts: 37,609
Re: Bow Almost Finished
« Reply #2 on: December 07, 2013, 10:17:42 am »
I use Tru-Oil on all my bows, no matter what wood used.  5 or 6 layers with a rubdown with 0000steel wool between coats . If I use it on a hunting bow I give it a quick spray of satin poly to cut the shine.
Logged
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline wood_bandit 99

  • Member
  • Posts: 197
  • Shoot straight my friends!!   55#@26"
Re: Bow Almost Finished
« Reply #3 on: December 07, 2013, 01:10:24 pm »
I use linseed oil for a more traditional look. Then I put beeswax to cut some of the shine and still have the old indian bow look. Works good. No probs with rain cutting into the finish and you can buff the bees wax for a shine.
Logged
"Judge a man by his questions, not his answers" ~Anonymous

   "The person who says it cannot be done should not interrupt the person who is doing it." ~Chinese Proverb

Don Case

  • Guest
Re: Bow Almost Finished
« Reply #4 on: December 07, 2013, 02:00:45 pm »
Is Tru-oil available at sporting goods stores or paint shops?
Logged

Offline koan

  • Member
  • Posts: 2,393
  • Brian D. Mo.
Re: Bow Almost Finished
« Reply #5 on: December 07, 2013, 02:10:51 pm »
Ive only found it at gun shops.. I recently used tung oil.. Its much cheaper than tru oil and gives a great finish... Brian
Logged
When you complement a lady on her dress.....make sure she is the one wearing it.....

Offline Weylin

  • Member
  • Posts: 2,296
Re: Bow Almost Finished
« Reply #6 on: December 07, 2013, 02:17:36 pm »
I buy it online. even with shipping it's usually cheaper than at the store.
Logged

Offline dane lund

  • Member
  • Posts: 103
Re: Bow Almost Finished
« Reply #7 on: December 07, 2013, 02:20:55 pm »
My other hobby is building flintlock longrifles, so I've had a little experience with wood finishes. Tru oil is a very hard, on the surface finish. Very plastic looking. I like the "in the wood" finishes better. There are many out there. Most are wipe on, wipe off finishes. They give the wood a nice glow, as opposed to that plastic shine. They also allow easy repair of scratches. Just wipe on another coat, and wipe it off. The scratches that do show up don't scratch white, because they don't scratch "through" the finish.
Formby's is a good over the counter, but many better at Woodcraft, or on line stores. I personally like Chambers Traditional Oil Finish.
Logged
In His grip,
Smallpatch

Offline Bryce

  • Global Moderator
  • Member
  • Posts: 3,125
  • Pacific Ghost Longbows
Re: Bow Almost Finished
« Reply #8 on: December 07, 2013, 03:27:08 pm »
Tru oil is a combo of natural oils including linseed oil. That "plastic shine" comes from polyurethane or    urethanes and other polymer composed finishes.
Logged
Clatskanie, Oregon

Offline woodswalker

  • Member
  • Posts: 51
Re: Bow Almost Finished
« Reply #9 on: December 07, 2013, 03:43:33 pm »
So 5 or 6 coats of Tru oil if I use it. What if I use the linseed oil , how much would I use for one bow and how do I apply it?
By the way thanks guys for the help.
Logged

Offline dane lund

  • Member
  • Posts: 103
Re: Bow Almost Finished
« Reply #10 on: December 07, 2013, 05:31:33 pm »
Linseed oil is not a finish. It is an oil.  It never truly dries, even with driers added. It is also water permeable.
 NOT a good finish by its self. That's why a wax or some other sealer is need
Logged
In His grip,
Smallpatch

Offline StickMan47

  • Member
  • Posts: 148
Re: Bow Almost Finished
« Reply #11 on: December 07, 2013, 05:33:39 pm »
I found my Tru Oil at my local "sports and outdoors store". Not sure if its ok to mention the name here or not. But it was over in the hunting section in with the gun cleaning and finishing supplies. Bottles were kinda small but enough to do a bow with.
Logged
Makin fine firewood, one bow at a time!

Offline dane lund

  • Member
  • Posts: 103
Re: Bow Almost Finished
« Reply #12 on: December 07, 2013, 05:50:17 pm »
The plastic shine in tru oil is from the natural oils that have had driers added to the finish to make them hard, and sit on top of the wood.
Set a glass of water on a tru oil stock, and you'll have a permanent white ring. The linseed in it never dries.
Tru oil was and still is the standard for fun stocks for years and years. There are many others out there as well, Linspeed, Pilkinton, etc. they all use the same artificial driers to achieve that shine. To mellow out that shine, you must use pumice and rotten stone to get that "hand rubbed" finish.  OR you can just hand rub a nice finish that becomes part of the wood.
Don't mean to ruffle feathers, but this is the truth. Linseed oil is NOT a finish, it's an oil. Gotta add driers and hardeners to make it work.
A spar varnish in my opinion, would make a better outdoor finish. After all, it's meant to be used on boats.
JMHO!
Logged
In His grip,
Smallpatch

Offline koan

  • Member
  • Posts: 2,393
  • Brian D. Mo.
Re: Bow Almost Finished
« Reply #13 on: December 07, 2013, 08:42:55 pm »
While I definately agree with Dane that linseed oil is just an oil like so many traditional finishes, and i dont personally care for it... Its still a finish. Like all natural oil finishes, it is high maintenance.. you dont do it once and forget about it. Just like in quality antiques, you re-apply it as needed and IMO hand rubbing is the best way. We have been spoiled by modern finish with hardeners( im glad) but its not the only way.. I got to admit the sexiest gun stocks ive seen were done with linseed oil....but they do leach oil somewhat.... Brian
Logged
When you complement a lady on her dress.....make sure she is the one wearing it.....

Offline wood_bandit 99

  • Member
  • Posts: 197
  • Shoot straight my friends!!   55#@26"
Re: Bow Almost Finished
« Reply #14 on: December 07, 2013, 09:02:27 pm »
Quote from: koan on December 07, 2013, 08:42:55 pm
While I definately agree with Dane that linseed oil is just an oil like so many traditional finishes, and i dont personally care for it... Its still a finish. Like all natural oil finishes, it is high maintenance.. you dont do it once and forget about it. Just like in quality antiques, you re-apply it as needed and IMO hand rubbing is the best way. We have been spoiled by modern finish with hardeners( im glad) but its not the only way.. I got to admit the sexiest gun stocks ive seen were done with linseed oil....but they do leach oil somewhat.... Brian

Yes! All traditional finishes were bear fat and stuff like that which is JUST an oil apparently but it isn't a varnish where it is spray and forget, you have to rub it on and keep on doing it, which I enjoy. Read the witchery of archery and Maurice talks about rubbing their bows with oil. I personally wax and oil mine for whatever added protection and appearance it gives my bow. I like to be able to say everything about the bow is natural and love wiping my bow down, like you have to clean the bore of your gun. It also lets you see the state your bow is in, a check up, and I think if it gets soaked in, you are waterproofing the wood and not putting some "plastic" over it to waterproof it. Makes it feel more safe to get in rain, I think
Logged
"Judge a man by his questions, not his answers" ~Anonymous

   "The person who says it cannot be done should not interrupt the person who is doing it." ~Chinese Proverb
Pages: [1] 2
« previous next »