Refinishing a Recurve

[mrfritz44]

I was at a sportsman's show here in PA and picked up an old recurve that was being sold for 5 bucks by a table that was there to generate money. They had donated items and this recurve was one of those items. Anyway, it looks to be in great shape in terms of the actual wood and fiberglass. The problem with it is the finish. It's got a yellowed and cracked finish on it that has begun to flake off. The bow was obviously kept in a very dry and warm environment given the state of the finish and the rubber slap guards that were on the string until I flaked them off.

What's a good method to strip this thing? I have a heavy duty finish stripper that workds well on gun stocks, but I'm afraid I may damage the fiberglass. Is sanding my only recourse?

Thanks.........Fritz

[lcoast]

Fritz, if it was me I would scrape it, either with a cabinet scraper or the edge of a knife held at 90 degrees and then I would sand it. Use a round file in the nocks. If it is yellowish and flakey it is probably varnish and the rest should come off fairly easy.


=keith=

[Stump Shooter]

How would you repair scratches on a recurve that was finished in clear epoxy?

[lcoast]

Stump Shooter, I am no expert and have never worked with epoxy. But I would get some real fine steel wool and rub the scratches using mineral oil as a lubricant . I would then mix up a thin coat of epoxy an apply it. Might need 2 or more. Actually i am so cheap I would probably test an area and see if polyuretahne would stick to the epoxy and if it did I would apply a coat or two. It is slightly amber in color but I like the effect. Makes wood look richer.

When I say thin coat of epoxy I mean cut it with acetone.

Hopefully an expert will come along and correct me if I am wrong.

=keith=