Your thoughts on finishes for bows

[bjrogg]

I'm just wondering what are the best products to use for sealing and finishing a bow? So far I've just used water base polycrylic. I really have know idea if it's good or not it's just all I could find at the time. I'm not real concerned about it being a natural or primitive material although that would be fine I just want something that's going to keep moisture out be durable without a lot of up keep. I would like to use this bow for hunting so I'd like to keep reflection down. Also where to find these products.

[Josh B]

My go to finish is tru-oil gunstock finish made by birchwood-Casey.  You can pick it up at cabela's and other outfitters and some gun stores or order it from Brownells in Montezuma Ia.  Don't get the big bottle.  It'll dry out before you ever use 1/2 of it finishing bows.  I like it because you can touch it up at anytime without having to refinish the entire bow.  For a matte finish there are several techniques that work well.  The most popular is to lightly mist the bow with matte spray poly after the tru-oil is dry.  My preferred method is to let the tru-oil cure for a bout 4 hrs and then buff it with my bare CLEAN hand.  This produces a nice satin finish.  Josh

[Dances with squirrels]

Thunderbird bow finish. I've used many different finishes, but it just doesn't get any better than T-bird... not yet anyway. I won't use anything else.

[bjrogg]

Thanks D.W.S where do you get that? Is that the same people as Tunderbird Atlatl?

[paulsemp]

I prefer tung oil

[bjrogg]

What is tung oil and where would I buy it? I'm thinking something that they would use for guitar's would work too.

[Weylin]

My vote is for Tru-oil. I do about 8-9 light coats and then wet sand it with 600 grit. After that I polish it with a slurry of oil and pumice powder.

[BowEd]

Magna lac/dull finish works great for me.Outdoor finish.Quick too as a spray preferably.

[wizardgoat]

I always hit my bows with 2-3 coats of shellac, then 4-6 coats of tung oil.
Everyone has their own methods, try out a few things till you find what works for you

[bjrogg]

That's one of the many things I love about this site. Allways more than one way to skin a cat or finish a bow thanks guys I'm taking in all the suggestions
Bjrogg

[PEARL DRUMS]

 I like Helmsman spray in a clear satin. I like shellac, tung oil, wax in successive coats. I like Tru Oil. I like just several coats of tung oil and wax to. A lot depends on the bows use as to which one I reach for. I have a few that are nothing but shellac and wax.

[loon]

Tru oil is like tung or linseed oil (boiled?) mixed with varnish and a solvent
I did a mix of amber shellac and tru oil, just to make it darker.. don't know if it makes the finish weaker, likely does

[Pat B]

I do just like Josh(Gun Doc)said and I spray satin poly to reduce the shine. I've used Tru-Oil for many bows over many years and never had a problem with it...and I use it on bows and arrows.

[bjrogg]

Thanks for all the ideas guys I think I'm kinda leaning towards the instructions Josh and Pat gave me but it sure is interesting seeing what everybody does. Nobody said water based polycrylic don't know if that's because it's not as good or just because I already tried it.
Bjrogg

[leaf_h]

The best finishing product I have ever seen is japanese lacquer, those traditional craftsman always apply on horn bows or Yumi. 
Tung oil is secondary choice, as lacquer is much more expensive and sometimes causes deadly allergy.
I have tried wax oil once and I found it looks great and well waterproof, but I'm not sure about its duration.
In addition, I saw someone apply heated bee wax on the wood self bow and it looks nice, too.