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Massey finish - two part epoxy and acetone

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JW_Halverson:
I had used this once long, long ago and I probably used too little acetone since I remember it was difficult to apply. Can I ask people to share with me their recipes and techniques?  I am wanting to revisit this finish on a bow that will be seeing something of a more inclement weather situation that I usually encounter.

Allyn T:
Eric has a recipe I believe, you could message him

Pat B:
John, one thing I heard about using Massey finish as a bow finish is to apply it in one swipe with a saturated applicator and let that dry before adding another. I've never used it as a bow finish but I've heard that if you try to wipe back and forth or before the first coat dries it comes out badly.
 As far as a recipe I don't have one. When I used Massey finish to seal hemp handle wraps I mix the epoxy and add the solvent until it is the desired consistency. I like it very thin for the handle wraps and saturate the cordage then let it set. The solvent will flash off allowing the epoxy to cure.

Eric Krewson:
This is the most durable finish I have ever used but it does take a while to apply.

A friend gave me a bunch of baby food jars with lids that are perfect to mix this finish in. I don't measure anything, I squirt about a teaspoon of two-ton epoxy and hardener into the baby food jar, fill the jar up about half way with acetone and stir the mix with a popsicle stick until all the epoxy is dissolved. I dip a cleaning patch sized piece of cloth in the mix and quickly wipe it on the bow or arrow shaft that I am working on. More acetone gives you more working time until the mix gets too tacky to apply but will take more coats because the mix ration is thinner.

In a sealed jar any finish you have left over has about a week of shelf life before it sets up, this is one reason I only mix a small amount at a time.

On a hot day I can get three coats of this finish on a bow in one day because the epoxy cures quicker in the heat but in the winter, I may be able to put only one coat on in a day. This is a very shiny finish when completed, I usually give the bow a coat of satin spar urethane over the epoxy acetone to cut the shine.

You can crest arrows with acrylic paint and use this finish but it will dissolve any of the standard cresting paints. I use el-cheapo acrylic craft paints for cresting so I am good to go with this finish.

I have friends who have used alcohol and lacquer thinner instead of acetone but I haven't tried these solvents.

I have used this finish on a lot of arrows, I found if I lose one under the grass in the yard and find it 6-months later the feathers might be rotted but the shaft is still usable and in good shape.

JW_Halverson:
Great. Thanks Eric.  That sounds pretty much like what Jimmi the Sammi told me a week or so ago when we were talking bows. I am thinking this will be laid over this sinew-backed hickory I have almost ready to finish up. With the sinew and hickory both loving to take on moisture, this ought to work pretty well.

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