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Author Topic: How do you hold a bow when varnishing?  (Read 4061 times)

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Offline stuckinthemud

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    • avenue woodcarving
How do you hold a bow when varnishing?
« on: May 22, 2015, 03:06:45 am »
Hi all, holding a bow is not a problem when oiling or waxing, but what do you do with a varnish finish? Hang from cotton, apply to one half then the other? It's been a bit of a sticky problem for me when applying a Danish oil.
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Offline Del the cat

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Re: How do you hold a bow when varnishing?
« Reply #1 on: May 22, 2015, 03:22:03 am »
That's one advantage of full ELB horn nocks :)
Hold top limb wipe over the lower and central section.
Rest bottom nock on floor, steady the bow by holding the top nock.
Wipe top limb, lean top nock against strategically placed item on top shelf.
Turn to walk away, trip over lower limb  ::)... repeat as necessary :laugh:
Del
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Offline stuckinthemud

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Re: How do you hold a bow when varnishing?
« Reply #2 on: May 22, 2015, 06:49:56 am »
Glad its not just me. ;D
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Offline PatM

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Re: How do you hold a bow when varnishing?
« Reply #3 on: May 22, 2015, 09:19:59 am »
Drill a tiny hole  into the end of the tip and glue in a skewer like you might do to  hold a horsehair tip) Hang the bow from that.  You can trim  the skewer after.
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Offline Tree_Ninja

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Re: How do you hold a bow when varnishing?
« Reply #4 on: May 22, 2015, 09:26:28 am »
I hang mine up with two strings looped around the nocks.

Or I will do the belly first and then flip it for the back and straddle it between two blocks.

 Watch out for drips!
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Offline make-n-break

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Re: How do you hold a bow when varnishing?
« Reply #5 on: May 22, 2015, 10:07:55 am »
I wrap my most of my handles with jute soaked in tb3 over the raw wood and hold the handle when varnishing. I wear nitrile gloves and put the finish on the handle as well, but I don't care if my hands muck up the handle area cuz I'll wear all the finish off in time anyway.
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"When making a bow from board staves you are freeing a thing of dignity from the humiliation of static servitude." -TBB1

Offline Will H

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Re: How do you hold a bow when varnishing?
« Reply #6 on: May 22, 2015, 11:18:54 am »
I use two spring clamps at the handle.
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Offline JW_Halverson

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Re: How do you hold a bow when varnishing?
« Reply #7 on: May 22, 2015, 11:30:16 am »
I leave the handle leather until the very last, so I can hold or clamp it by the handle even if it means the finish is not totally flawless.  Sewing the leather after the finish is cured covers a multitude of sins.
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Guns have triggers. Bicycles have wheels. Trees and bows have wooden limbs.

Offline Aaron H

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Re: How do you hold a bow when varnishing?
« Reply #8 on: May 22, 2015, 12:28:05 pm »
Quote from: Will H on May 22, 2015, 11:18:54 am
I use two spring clamps at the handle.
great idea
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Offline cdpbrewer

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Re: How do you hold a bow when varnishing?
« Reply #9 on: May 26, 2015, 01:38:37 pm »
Photo of the rig I use to hold a bow for finishing is below.  The posts at ends of the bow compress it.

Details at: http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,41089.msg551913.html#msg551913

c.d.
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Offline George Tsoukalas

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Re: How do you hold a bow when varnishing?
« Reply #10 on: May 26, 2015, 05:53:30 pm »
In my non bending handle bows I take a roofing or shingle nail and bang it into the belly side of the handle  where it won't show, tie on a string and suspend it from another nail. Then I spray on some spar urethane.
Also, the nail relieves handle pressure. :)
Jawge
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Offline Dances with squirrels

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Re: How do you hold a bow when varnishing?
« Reply #11 on: May 26, 2015, 06:37:41 pm »
I take a piece of wire about 9 - 10" long and twist it around the string groove. The other end is bent like a hook and the whole thing is hung up for spraying. Takes me 10 seconds. With this method, the wire actually only touches the bow in two or three spots and I move it a wee bit before each spraying session so that it doesnt leave marks and the entire thing is coated. Sometimes on day two I'll flip the bow around and hang it from the other tip.
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Straight wood may make a better bow, but crooked wood makes a better bowyer

Offline KS51

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Re: How do you hold a bow when varnishing?
« Reply #12 on: May 26, 2015, 10:08:46 pm »
I drill a small hole in one nock and use a bent paperclip to hang the bow up while it dries.



a small piece of yarn through the hole makes a good wind ìndicator for a hunting bow.

Ken
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Offline JoJoDapyro

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Re: How do you hold a bow when varnishing?
« Reply #13 on: May 27, 2015, 10:11:01 am »
With my hands? >:D
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If you always do what you always did you'll always get what you always got.
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Offline Aaron H

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Re: How do you hold a bow when varnishing?
« Reply #14 on: May 27, 2015, 10:35:31 am »
Quote from: George Tsoukalas on May 26, 2015, 05:53:30 pm
Also, the nail relieves handle pressure. :)
Jawge
Ha, I wondered how all that internal pressure got out  ;)
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