Main Discussion Area > English Warbow
War Bow Finish
Loki:
Tallow!dont you have to boil bones and hooves to get that stuff?
Pat B:
Tallow is animal fat. The leather teratment I use on my boots is Montana Pitch Blend...bees wax, mink oil and pine pitch. ;) I also have bear grease that I have used on Native American style bows.
I like Mark's idea of linseed oil alternated with bees wax. I'll look back at the "wet spring" post also. Thanks, Pat
Loki:
Nice,how many coats would you normaly apply?
D. Tiller:
Nah! Its just boiled down fat. Collect the oil from the surface of the liquid. Thats all tallow is. You can use it for candles, cooking, soap, and to grease wagon wheels. That sorta thing!
Yeomanbowman:
Only a little off topic... I've heared that oil/fat etc. Slow down a bow? I use it, although. Carol Edwards, in 'The Glade' is always going on about this. She also mentions that it makes a bow harder to repair, which seems fair.
I have 3 theories as to how this myth/reality came about.
1. They are not as effective as modern varnishes and let moisture it-thus slowing the cast
2. Raw linseed was used and it doesn't cure- and scenario number1 happen, but to a greater extent.
3. There is some sort of internal dampening happening that slows the limbs return, rather like a suspension unit's oil.
or
4. It doesn't slow the cast at all, of course.
What do you think?
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version