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Suggested finish?

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stuckinthemud:
Ok, so its not a warbow but I do need some expertise on medieval finishes. My gothic crossbow has bone, horn and carved antler inlays. What would you suggest as a good finish, plain bees wax, or wax and turpentine, varnish, or something else? Oh, and should I put anything at all on the bone? Thanks in advance, Andrew

Hawkdancer:
Not sure if it is "medieval, but you might try a 3:2 mix of flax oil and beeswax.  Depending on what glue you used for the inlays, it should be good.  Rub it in well.  Takes a few days to set though.  It is actually a spoon finish for working spoons, and you will need to reapply occasionally.  Do a test if you have a cutoff or scrap to see if you like it.
Hawkdancer

stuckinthemud:
I used gelatin glue

Hawkdancer:
Should work!  The gelatin is basically hide glue, I think!  Truoil might work to, but I haven't used it on bows - it did not affect the brass inlay on gunstocks that I have worked.
Hawkdancer

Pat B:
Tru-Oil does work on bows but it's not medieval. Oil with bees wax would probably be appropriate.
 FYI...an old adage about oil finishes on wood... Once a day for a week, once a week for a month, once a month for a year and once a year after that.

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