Recurve Finish Questions

[Ifunk]

I bought a great used recurve on here recently and it just arrived in the mail. I love my current hunting bow and wanted a backup with the same draw weight, so I jumped at the chance since the company is no longer in business(Predator).

When it got here I gave it a good wipedown with just a damp cloth and decided to put a coat of wax on it. I had a couple options and decided to go with some high end wax I bought for my tools believing it didn't have solvents in it(Renaissance). Well I quickly waxed on and waxed off and noticed it left swirls the finish. And the riser felt a bit tacky. I knew at this point I had made a bonehead mistake. A quick search revealed it does have a small amount of white spirit in it.

I guess the saying "Kill it with kindness" applies in this situation. I was trying to protect the bow but maybe this is completely unnecessary. The last time I went elk hunting it rained so hard and was so moist that my broadheads were orange with rust when I pulled them out of the quiver.

Any thoughts on a good wax or what to do in this situation?

Thanks in advance

 

[oldgoat]

Hard to beat Vaseline for the broadheads, don't know what to tell you about the bow finish, I don't ever do anything other than maybe a damp cloth for my bow other than when I replace the shelf and strike plates, then I'll use acetone or alcohol to get the old adhesive off, never had an issue with the finish coming off

 

[LostArra]

chapstick on the broadheads

I've used plain old Johnson's paste wax on bows and wood arrows. It's not permanent protection but works

To touch up a finish I always used thinned Helmsman spar urethane, wiped on in thin coats with light sanding. That was the finish I put on my selfbows. First coat or two was high gloss. It's supposed to be harder. Then I finished with multiple coat of matte finish.

 

[Beendare]

Delete

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[Wrench]

I'd be dang surprised if you hurt it a bit. Thunderbird is catalyzed and pretty tough stuff. Perhaps a reaction to the finish....but nothing damaging to bow would be my guess.

 

[Ifunk]

I'd be dang surprised if you hurt it a bit. Thunderbird is catalyzed and pretty tough stuff. Perhaps a reaction to the finish....but nothing damaging to bow would be my guess.

Thanks Wrench. Is thunderbird a type of finish? I'd be hesitant to do anything too drastic as it just moved the top layer of finish around a bit. it's not like it took all of it off. If I wasn't a woodworker I probably wouldn't be sweating the appearance as much, but that's the perfectionist in me. And I want good protection. You're in WA so I know you understand this. If I still lived in AZ it would probably be a different story.

Thanks to everyone for the insight and suggestions. I think instead of my backup bow this just became my primary hunting bow as it's just going to get more and more abused.