Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: PEARL DRUMS on August 14, 2012, 10:03:08 pm

Title: Ipe and Helmsman
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on August 14, 2012, 10:03:08 pm
I finally finsihed off an BBI I started a year ago. I have had issues sealing ipe in the past with Deft, so I avoided it this time. I used Helmsman rather. Well 9 days later its starting to harden up......finally. Just thought I would share what I learned.
Title: Re: Ipe and Helmsman
Post by: beetlebailey1977 on August 14, 2012, 10:44:59 pm
Is it from the oils in the wood?
Title: Re: Ipe and Helmsman
Post by: lesken2011 on August 14, 2012, 11:32:31 pm
Did you try any shellac first? It worked pretty well on one of my bows, dried quickly, and the poly final coats stuck well and dried pretty fast after.
Title: Re: Ipe and Helmsman
Post by: criveraville on August 15, 2012, 12:55:56 am
Pearly let's see pics..  8)

Cipriano
Title: Re: Ipe and Helmsman
Post by: Pat B on August 15, 2012, 01:15:17 am
Shellac is the ticket. It sticks to anything and anything sticks to it. I keep a spray can of Bullseye shellac on my work bench all the time. Good stuff.
Title: Re: Ipe and Helmsman
Post by: Pappy on August 15, 2012, 07:08:11 am
I have had the same trouble with ipe and Tru Oil, if I ever do another ipe I will try shellac. :)
   Pappy
Title: Re: Ipe and Helmsman
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on August 15, 2012, 07:53:43 am
I didnt use shellac, sounds liek I should have. Its hardening down finally, but i was getting nervous. If you have never had to strip a semi gooey bow.............dont! Its a nasty job.

Thanks guys
Title: Re: Ipe and Helmsman
Post by: Pappy on August 15, 2012, 08:23:49 am
Been there done that and it is a mess. :( Glad it worked out,looking forward to seeing it.
    Pappy
Title: Re: Ipe and Helmsman
Post by: DQ on August 15, 2012, 09:34:44 am
Will shellac seal over the oily carp skins I just put on a bow?  It's been about a week and the oil is still leaking out of them.  I'm afraid I won't ever be able to finish this one.
Title: Re: Ipe and Helmsman
Post by: Pappy on August 15, 2012, 09:54:53 am
I've only done one set of Carp skins,I washed them good with Dawn dishwashing
lequid before I started and they work out fine,not sure if your are already glued and leaking oil, does the glue you used seem to be holding ? Seem to me it wouldn't stick,sorry Pearl for the thread hijack.
   Pappy
Title: Re: Ipe and Helmsman
Post by: DQ on August 15, 2012, 09:58:56 am
Oops, sorry PEARL, should have started a new post on this. In fact, I think I will.
Title: Re: Ipe and Helmsman
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on August 15, 2012, 10:20:19 am
Hi jack away fella's. Im nowhere that sensitive!
Title: Re: Ipe and Helmsman
Post by: country on August 15, 2012, 11:04:46 am
on the ipe....are you putting shellac first, then going over with something else (helmsman varnish etc.)  or jut using the shellac..... ?   Just curious.... got an ipe in progress  ... Thanks ::)
Title: Re: Ipe and Helmsman
Post by: lesken2011 on August 15, 2012, 11:10:06 am
On the hbi, I recently did. I put about 3 coats of shellac on with light sanding in between, then a couple of coats of quick drying satin poly. It dried pretty fast and looked pretty good. My pre-finish sanding has improved since then, though. I think the next one will look much better.
Title: Re: Ipe and Helmsman
Post by: RBLusthaus on August 15, 2012, 12:55:35 pm
I recommend spray laquer (I use Minwax) for both ipe and boo.   Shellac dries also, but I find the laquer to be clearer.

Russ 
Title: Re: Ipe and Helmsman
Post by: lesken2011 on August 15, 2012, 01:25:28 pm
The bullseye shellac comes in a clear and amber. When I wanted to enhance the yellow in some yellow heart tips on a recent bow I used the amber. Otherwise I generally use the clear.
Title: Re: Ipe and Helmsman
Post by: bubby on August 15, 2012, 03:16:57 pm
i've built a few epe bows and spray poly worked just fine, Bub
Title: Re: Ipe and Helmsman
Post by: randman on August 15, 2012, 04:18:35 pm
I recently had a poly problem with my trade bow. Took a week to dry. I wish I had thought of the shellac (I usually keep some spray shellac around but I had run out not long before). I've thought of trying spray lacquer. I get colored tinted lacquer for guitar finishes but I began to think I might get the tiny lacquer cracks that old guitars get after they have been taken in and out of warm and cold areas. That might only be a problem on maybe a hunting bow as target bows don't usually get exposed to the conditions a hunter would be.
Any thoughts or experience that RBLusthaus? Or anyone else who uses laquer?
Title: Re: Ipe and Helmsman
Post by: RBLusthaus on August 15, 2012, 04:52:44 pm
I have not had the laquer "craze" (is that the right word), but I keep the bows covered in paste wax before going into the woods.  Not sure it gives me any extra long term protection, but I feel the wax keeps more moisture from penetrating than would otherwise be the case. 

Russ