Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: mikekeswick on October 23, 2011, 05:29:33 pm
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Hi guys, i'm just wondering what type of pens, paint markers etc you use to sign your bows and what finishes they work with.
I've tried using every type of permanent marker I can find! Most are either too thick a line, get 'dissolved' when used with finishes like danish oil, varnishes etc...I've also tried those paint pens you can get, they look pretty good but again limit you to the finish you can use over them.
I've also got a pyrography pen which works pretty well...maybe i'm just rubbish at using it but it doesn't look great?
I'm looking for something that will give a fine line and stand upto solvent based finishes.
Any help gratefully received!
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Lately I've been using a Sharpie Industrial with good results.
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What finish are you putting over your Sharpie, Gordon?
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I use a fine point sharpie paint pen with tru-oil or spar urethane over it.
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JW, I've been putting Tru-Oil over the Sharpie.
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Excellent, I love Tru-oil.
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Try this: sand your bow in the area to be signed with 400 to 800 grit sandpaper then burnish well. Apply 10 to 15 coats of tru or tung oil to that area,(you should really do this to the entire bow.) The object is to build up a smooth layer of oil that resembles a piece of glass. Now take a sharp needle and etch your design into it, kind of like scrimshaw. Now rub india ink or a black prismacolor pencil over the area, wipe away the excess with a clean cloth and bingity bangity boom, ya got yaself a purty stick! You ca get quite detailed with this methed . The secret is mirror finish.Try it.
Cody W.
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I use India ink and a quill pen. I put a few coats of Tru-Oil on the bow as normal. Where I'm writing, I spray with satin poly and let it dry then write with the India Ink. After it dries I add the rest of the Tru-Oil finish. Although I usually only use black, India ink comes in many colors. It doesn't fade with exposure to sunlight either.
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I've had some good luck writing on mine with an acid free ink pen that my wife bought from one of those scrap booking places. I did leave it over night before I put a finish on it though.
Good luck with your quest for one.
Dave
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Many thanks for all the ideas guys. I'll try them all!
Misslemaster - now thats an interesting idea....watch this space
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Quill pen and Testers paint. I like having a bunch of colors to use. Two coats of finish, sign the bow and two more coats to seal.
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I use the same pen and do like Gordon with the tru oil,I just don't rub the first coat very hard,just a light coat rubbed lightly works fine. :)
Pappy
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I use a 'STAEDTLER permanent' marker (F), applied when all the finishing is done then I 'seal it' but the trick is a waterbased (acrylic) varnish dabbed rather than wiped over it.
I've tried various combination of pen/finish but that's the only one that's worked.
maybe the alternative is acrylic paint, as that won't disolve, but it's not very convenient to apply.
Del
(The fact that we have those pens in stationary supplies at work is purely coincidental O:))
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Lately I've been using a Pilot G-2 07 fine point gel ink pen. I usually seal the bow with a coat or two of shellac or wiping varnish (or both), then sign it. After letting the gel ink cure for 24 hours, I then can wipe my shellac or varnish over it without it running or smearing. The gel pen seems to work a lot better than the sharpies I've tried, and the ink turns out much darker then the sharpies as well.
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I recently sanded a bit, used a fine point sharpie, and finished the whole bow (osage) with several coats of spray -on satin poly. Hunted hard several in the rain / humidity right after shoot in with no ill effects.
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I use an extra fine tipped sharpie marker on top of whatever finish I'm using, then spray a bit of matte finish over that. Seems to last pretty good. It will start to fade after about a year.
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I put a few coats of Tru-Oil on the bow as normal. Where I'm writing, I spray with satin poly and let it dry then write with the India Ink. After it dries I add the rest of the Tru-Oil finish.
I tried that recently on a really fine mulberry flatbow. Two coats of Tru-Oil, signed with a pigmented ink that cannot fade. I gave it a light going over with 0000 steel wool and then 6 coats of spray on satin finish poly-you're-insane. Looked pretty darn good so I thought. So did the guy in Noatak, Alaska when it arrived. He loved it until he got down to the lower 48 and was shooting it in a higher humidity climate! The finish turned hazy, started to blister and peeled up in chips. Something was incompatible between those two finishes.
I've promised to fix it for him and this time it's nothing but a dozen handrubbed coats of Tru-oil and a final buff with ultrafine steel wool to dull the finish. Pity I can't find a pen that Tru-Oil doesn't wipe off!
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Howdy y'all
just wondering cuz I'm interested
In finding a good method myself
What about using a wood burner
With a fine tip it shouldn't do any damage
And will hold up to any finish
-Bo-
Laporte TEXAS
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Bohunter - i've also tried that but it's devilishly hard to make it look really classy with a pyrograhy pen...my attempts have been ok....but only ok :-\
I've got a few different sharpie pens ordered up now and some tru-oil. My dad has got some indian ink in loads of different colours.
Thanks for all the ideas guys! Much appreciated!
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I had trouble with sharpies fading after a few years,so I went to a small size calligraphy pen with india ink.It stays bright even after several years.For dark bows I use the white india ink to letter. JMHO God BLess
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I used a pen at work
made by steadtler call
A lable master or lable maker
I can't rember wich but it
writes on wvwrything metal fiberglass
All kinds of surfaces
-Bo-
Laporte TEXAS