Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: knap_123 on December 03, 2009, 10:47:11 am

Title: minnwax
Post by: knap_123 on December 03, 2009, 10:47:11 am
does minnwax stain make a good bow stain?  the reason i ask is i used ton another project and it feels kind of waxy after it dries. and i wonderif it ad alot of moisture back intote wood?
Title: Re: minnwax
Post by: Hillbilly on December 03, 2009, 10:53:03 am
About all I use any more is alchohol-based leather dye like Fiebings.
Title: Re: minnwax
Post by: George Tsoukalas on December 03, 2009, 10:53:27 am
Is it water soluble stain? Jawge
Title: Re: minnwax
Post by: The Gopher on December 03, 2009, 11:55:12 am
I think Minwax, is all oil based stains.
Title: Re: minnwax
Post by: The Gopher on December 03, 2009, 11:58:02 am
I just checked, the minwax stains in the yellow can are oil based, these are the most common, you see them everywhere. They also have a water based stain thats in a cream colored can and says "water-based" right on the front.

The only stains that i have used on a bow are the oil based minwax (yellow can) and have not had a problem. 
Title: Re: minnwax
Post by: knap_123 on December 03, 2009, 12:04:48 pm
oh decisions, decisions, descions!   now i hae to decide if i want my old trusty homemade blk. walnut dye.  or my new color gunstock minnwax i just bought.  i dont want my bow to be sluggish cause i put a heavier  stain on it.  but its a real cool color as well. :-\
Title: Re: minnwax
Post by: Josh on December 03, 2009, 12:11:38 pm
I just did a hickory backed hickory bow in Ebony Minwax stain... here's a link to go look at it if you want. I finished it in 5 coats of tru oil after the 2 coats of stain dried.  Leave me a comment on it I don't think anyone really liked it.   ;D  -josh

http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,16059.msg221023.html#msg221023
Title: Re: minnwax
Post by: George Tsoukalas on December 03, 2009, 12:58:24 pm
Should be fine. I've used them on bows. I prefer the water based stains. I avoid water based for hickory. These days I've been using Rit in alcohol too. Still idea to put on a finish coat and I use spar urethane. Jawge
Title: Re: minnwax
Post by: knap_123 on December 03, 2009, 01:44:57 pm
nice bow josh!!  well i guess i'll use this stain since i've bought it and post pics on the dogwood  buildalong i'm doing.
Title: Re: minnwax
Post by: denny on December 03, 2009, 01:59:56 pm
I use it all the time, oil only for me. Heck I have even used shoepolish. Buff it with newspaper and see what you get. It will surprise you. I do this with little kid build alongs. Parents don't like stain on the kids hands.lol Anyway there is a new post I made the english long bow with the quiver is ash stained with minnwax(yellow can) with t-5 plastic coat laquer.
Title: Re: minnwax
Post by: mullet on December 03, 2009, 08:04:34 pm
 I use it all the time with no problem.
Title: Re: minnwax
Post by: Jmilbrandt on December 04, 2009, 12:35:35 am
I always use minwax never seemed to be a problem.
Title: Re: minnwax
Post by: knap_123 on December 04, 2009, 09:10:56 am
i got my second coat finished and i do like this stain alot. the only setback, all my flaws, and unseen hairline checks and what knots  jumped off the wood and  slapped me in the face!! lol  i learnt on this one, make sure my sanding is were  i need it and all bleamishes  fixed!  of course this was not the stains fault but my own  for  trying to go to fast  and not inspecting goodenough.  but if you ask mywife,  she'd say i practaly became intimate with this bow i held and stared at so long!   ;D   my point is,  the stain really brings out the  details, and i will use it again.
Title: Re: minnwax
Post by: George Tsoukalas on December 04, 2009, 10:57:19 am
Oh I hate that. Here's a tip for the future. Look at your bow outside in the sun. Take a scraper, knife and/or rasp to the nicks.  Back inside. Sand down to 220 grit. Take a moist paper towel to the bow. It raises the grain and exposes all nicks in the process. Let dry about 30 minutes or so. You'll know when it is dry. Sand with 220 again. Repeat until no grain is raised. Sand with 400 grit and 600 grit. Makes a nice finish. Jawge
Title: Re: minnwax
Post by: Josh on December 04, 2009, 11:07:00 am
yeah... me and my buddy snakeman have a saying every time one of us  finishes a bow and stain it.  We always joke about how the minwax brought out the beauty of the tool marks on each other's bows instead of the beauty of the grain. Oh well, I think it adds to the character of a wooden bow to have some toolmarks.   :)  -josh
Title: Re: minnwax
Post by: knap_123 on December 04, 2009, 11:33:57 am
thank you george, i'll do that on my next bow.