My first post...whats your favorite Osage finishes?

[shackleton]

   Am looking to finish an Osage longbow that a friend of mine made.Looking for input on some of your favorite finishes.Leaning towards Tru-oil finish followed by a product sold by PineHollow Longbows, a combo of animal fat and bees wax.Thoughts?
Scott
   BTW After this project I'll be starting to build myself.This projects a warmup.

[PEARL DRUMS]

Lots and lots and lots of options. My personal favorite as of late is a blend of bees wax and lemon oil, its for keeping guitars healthy. I rub in at least 3-4 coats and then add 3-4 coats of Johnsons Paste wax over it. If the bow is going down the road I use Helmsman Clear satin spray. Its very durable, looks great and can handle a thunder storm.

[Selfbowman]

True oil.    Arvin

[Danzn Bar]

Wow Pearly you change finishes as often as a woman changes her mind.
And your right many many options.   
DBar

[osage outlaw]

I have used tru-oil, tung oil, and spray poly.  My new favorite is automotive car rim sealer in satin.  I can put 3 or 4 coats on a bow in 30 minutes and it is done.   

[PEARL DRUMS]

Wow Pearly you change finishes as often as a woman changes her mind.
And your right many many options.   
DBar

I just like to try it all so if I give an opinion I have some experience to back it up.

[PatM]

Wow Pearly you change finishes as often as a woman changes her mind.
And your right many many options.   
DBar

I just like to try it all so if I give an opinion I have some experience to back it up.

   Will butter work?

[Pat B]

Pat,butter probably would work especially if it and the bow were heated first. Ghee might even be better.
 I've successfully used Tru-Oil for many years and see no need to change. I do add a quick spray of satin poly to reduce the shine. I've also used hand rubbed animal fat(bear, deer, etc.) on my more primitive bows.

[PEARL DRUMS]

Never tried butter, but it does have fat in it.

[Danzn Bar]

Are we sealing it primitively or modernly?
DBar
Oh yea if I have the time I like a penetrating finish.  Usually tung oil more available . Then a good wax.
Quickly I would use helsmen spar varnish. Neither is a primitive finish.

[bentstick54]

5 or 6 coats of tru oil with a coat of satin spray polish to dull the shine.

[Mesophilic]

On most of my wood projects, bows included, I like to use real tung oil, thinned out first followed by a couple applications at regular strength, let that cure for a while then the fake tung oil "finnish".  Really makes the grain pop and osage just glows.  From there it depends on the project and wether or not I want to dull it or wax it.

[Hrothgar]

I like the look of 'fake' tung oil on osage; formula approximately 8 parts satin oil polyurethane, 2 parts mineral spirits, 1 part boiled linseed oil. It will take a day to dry out between coats, but the vehicle is thin enough that it won't gum up or leave brush lines in the finish. A couple more coats after that.

[Dances with squirrels]

I've used Thunderbird Epoxy bow finish ever since it was announced Fullerplast was being discontinued. What 10 years now? Fullerplast was a great finish and I was happy with it, but T-Bird is even better. With it, you can end up with a finish nicer than what some professional bowyers are doing. I'm open to any finish that would be an improvement on T-bird's look and durability, but so far see no reason to change.

I've used various oils and dyes prior to the finish to alter the appearance of osage, and other woods.

[George Tsoukalas]

3 coats of Tru Oil followed by 3 or 4 of Spar Urethane spray on. The Tru Oil seals the pores. Jawge