Polyurethane finish over lard finish

[Black Moshannon]

I have an elm Sudbury style bow which I am giving to a friend. I originally rubbed lard into it for the finish. I have put a lot of lard onto it over about nine years and it’s a great shooter but now I want to finish it out real nice...can I spray on polyurethane wood finish over the slightly greasy lard? I don’t want to do this and have the stuff not dry. I’m afraid no one else will have done stuff like this. I know it’s not normal.

[PatM]

Nope.  Finishes like that require clean surfaces.

[Black Moshannon]

Ok, I thought that might be the case. I’ll just leave it as is then. It’s more traditional anyways, just not too “finished off” looking.

[Hawkdancer]

Give him/her a jar of lard along with the bow?! . Not many finishes will stick to grease, and lard is a grease, as is tallow, beeswax, etc!  Au natural is better, anyway!
Hawkdancer

[turmoiler]

So you can't use pu over any oil? For example tung or flaxseed oil?

[stuckinthemud]

You can't mix bases, oil based finishes can be mixed, water based finishes can be mixed, oil based finishes cannot be mixed with water based finishes.  PU varnish is oil based so it should go over lard once its cured. It certainly goes over oil paints, tung, linseed, flax oils. Try a tiny patch test and check but it should be ok. Check your varnish is clean with thinners or white spirits (oil base) not water and soap .

[PatM]

  Those are all drying oils though.   Lard is not.   Also PU can be either water or oil based.

[stuckinthemud]

Does lard never cure then?  Would the driers in the varnish dry the oils in the lard?

[bownarra]

Stick a chunk on a garage door and watch what happens over the years No it doesn't 'dry'.....and is best used for cooking If you want a super easy, very effective finish I suggest getting some parafin wax. Take shavings over , warm bow, melt flakes into wood.

[Black Moshannon]

Well it turned out I’m going to have to lower the draw weight so I’ll have a new finish to put on anyways.

[stuckinthemud]

Cooking oil works really well, sunflower is best, then vegetable, but olive goes rancid and smells  nasty

[Hawkdancer]

Flaxseed oil and beeswax, about 3:2, or 4:1, makes a good sealer for spoons.  Haven't tried it on bows yet, but it should work.
Hawkdancer