Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: chuckp on June 16, 2010, 11:59:19 am
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I'm finishing up a beautiful (to me) pyramid hickory. Man it shoots great. I'm using a leather floppy rest. I'd like to go with a walmart hemp handle.
After serving the hemp, should I soak the hemp with a watered down glue? How about tru oil or spar varnish?
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I will be interested in what the experts have to say. I have never tried a Hemp handle.
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I put a hemp wrap on the handle of my first bow, also hickory and soaked it with watered down glue. It came loose from the hickory in one piece.
I have heard Pat B (I think) reference epoxy thinned with acetone (Massey Finish?) as an effective finish for hemp handles, you might have better luck trying that than the glue.
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I use contact cement on the handle, then wrap it, then brush water-based poly over the top. Works pretty good.
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I've never had a problem soaking it in watered down TB3. I soak it pretty good and then seal it some more with Poly Spray after it dries.
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last hemp handle I had went up in smoke... but I didn't inhale :'(
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I use Titebond which is waterproof. You can coat with a spar. Jawge
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When I first started using hemp cord wrap for handles I would soak it with diluted TB glue and let it dry. I found out that the sweat from my hands would make the glue tacky. Then I started using Massey finish and have been using it ever since.
For the Massey finish I mix up a bit of 2ton epoxy, thin it with acetone and daub it on with a piece of cloth until it is well saturated. Be sure to wear rubber gloves or your hands will be very sticky until the glue cures out. I usually give the epoxy til tomorrow to cure out well.
This makes a great handle wrap that is effective under any weather conditions.
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I've just finished braiding some hemp twine for a handle on a little hickory bow. I'll wrap it tomorrow and try the Massey finish.
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Pat, you can use that same acetone to get it off your hands. ;)
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Hey I don't mean to sound indifferent, But I use expoy and thin with rubbing alcohol , I found this to work well as alcohol cuts expoy. Used this method to build radio airplanes years ago. WE used this method to water and fuel proof the firewalls . I know this doesn't have anything to do with bows, but borrowed ideas from the past come in handy sometimes. It thins the viscosity of the expoy and you get good penetration. Good Luck Denny
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Thanks Denny. I have never tried alcohol but will give it a try. I would prefer to use alcohol to acetone anyway, less toxic.
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... I usually give the epoxy til tomorrow to cure out well.
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It's jobs around the house for Mrs Cat that I leave until tomorrow ;).
Just overnight is fine for curing epoxy ;D
Del
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Jawge top coats the watered down titebond glue with spar. Wouldn't that be sufficient to seal the handle and prevent the glue from leaking out from sweat?