I recently decided to repair a couple of blistered finish spots on the limbs of my 1973 DH Ventura...it's 66" AMO and 25# DW at 28" makes it a fun bow to shoot. I started sanding the face of the limbs with some 220 gr 3m sandpaper...except, I decided to not sand the logo and bow specs area. What I ended up doing was spending about 8 hours in 2 or 3 days sanding the whole bow...I did some patching/filling and sanding...nothing major. I decided not to sand the logo/bow specs area. I'm planning on rubbing some Birchwood and Casey tru gun oil on the bow, and then maybe some 400 gr wet/sand...followed by more tru gun oil followed by super fine 0000 steel wool. The limbs look sweet with the yellowed clear coat finish removed to reveal the white Gordon glass...I hope she turns out looking as sweet as she shoots. The first photo shows one of the blisters...before starting to work on her...

...and this is the same limb area...still some work left...

...and more sanding...all the little nooks and cranties that make a riser unique, but functional seem to create more sanding...

...and a nice new looking limb...sweet!

I'm definitely not trying to rain on your parade, but I wonder whether the rub on oil finish will give the white glass a yellowish or ambered coloration. Maybe someone on here who has more experience than I with refinishing will know about that.

...thanks Dan...yup, this is my first attempt at bow refinishing...just experienced that first hand...thinking about rub on finish on the riser and a polyurethane spray to seal the rest...thanks

My experience with Tru-Oil is that it ends up being very clear. I doubt that it will affect the white limb finish one bit.

I am still trying to convince someone to try another similar product called GB Linspeed. It does not appear to be available in Canada any more or I would be trying some myself. You can order it in the States directly from the company website.

I had a forty pound Ventura that I sold to a friend and I still wish I had it back every time I pick it up.

Is yours the standard one or the Ne Plus Ultra version?

DDave

DDave...I'm not sure about the version?...how can I tell?

Billy,

Based on the photo you sent me regarding decals, yours is not the older NE Ultra version. Let me know when you want the decals.

Dave

Dave...I still haven't brought myself to sand away the original decals...after our correspondence, you kind'a had me thinking about working around the originals?

Whatever works for you. It looks like you are doing an awesome job, let me know if you need anything.

Dave

Thanks Dave...okay, I ended up re-sanding the limbs because I had some yellowing with the tru gun stock oil on the white glass...decided to lay some painters tape on the face of the limbs and apply second coat of tru gun oil. I fugure after a few coats of the tru gun oil, I'll apply a spray polyurethane clear coat to the limbs and riser.

...and the other side of the riser area

Looks pretty good!

...yup, there's still a few areas that need some lite sanding and more coats of oil

Looks good! Make sure you let the Tru-Oil cure for several days before applying the urethane. ps: Can I suggest spar urethane, as it is more flexible? I've had old recurves literally crackle when drawn, because they were refinished with poly.

thanks woodshavins...that's something I had'nt really considered...but it makes sense

I have my fathers hunting bow( he`s been gone 20 years now) had no idea what it is, pulls 40# @ 28", looks identical to the pics above, thanks soooo much wut4dude, for posting this thread and pics

...they're really smooth bows...and glad to "stir" some fond memorys HEC

Billy

...I spent a couple of hours sanding the riser and the tips with a super fine 0000 steel wool...and then applied another coat of true gun stock oil to the riser and tips only...starting to look good...not great yet, but good...here's a pic after the second coat...

...and a full body shot...picked up some helsman spar urethane spray today...I'm gonna throw down a couple more coats and continue to sand with the super fine steel wool pad in between...plus I'm letting the coats dry approximately 24 hrs in between sanding and the next coat...I figure I'll be laying down the last coat Saturday or Sunday...then I'm gonna let that sit for about three days before applying the spar urethane to the entire bow...that's my plan, but if anything I've learned on this, my first refinish, is to never rush "the process"...and there's always some sanding to do...

Another couple of hours to sand riser and tips...it's looking better...this is after the third coat was applied...

...I've been using a super fine "0000" steel wool and a 600 grit 3m wet/dry sandpaper...

Lookin' Good!! I have not used Tru-Oil. I usually use spray poly, but I may use Tru-Oil in the future.

-Joe

Looking good, know what i have to now Yes, they are smooth -Eric

...okay, I ended up with 5 coats of tru gun stock oil on the riser and tips...allowed each coat to sit 24 hours, followed by a lite sanding with "0000" super fine steel wool. After the fifth coat, I sanded the entire bow and allowed the tru gun stock oil to dry for aproximately 3 days or 72 hours. This picture is after two lite coats of spar urethane spray, applied 24 hours apart after lite sanding. I haven't noticed any "yellowing" of the white glass as of yet. I'm thinking 3 to 4 more lite coats applied 24 hours apart with a lite sanding. She's beginning to look "alive"!

Good thread! I'm going to be starting on a mid '60s Monterey later in the week.

...thanks woodshavins...I've refinished rifles and shotguns before, but never a bow...it's definitely been a "learn as you go" type of project...I guess I started with a bow that was in pretty good condition to begin with...

It's lookin good! I've done quite a few, and you learn new tricks and methods with each one. Always stuff to learn.

...okay, it's been a week or greater since I last posted on this thread...other than my real job and dodging huricanes, tornadoes and earthquakes...I managed to finish my '73 Damon Howatt Ventura..I let my last coat of spar urethane dry for about a week and then I gave the entire bow, excluding the grip area, a good polishing. I just received a new continuous loop string from Dayrl Merrill...It's a flourescent orange and silver dacron B50 string...I've put a few shotsthrough it, about 20,... this bow is a real sweet shooter...great string Dayrl!...if I've learned anything from this my first bow restoration is to plan on "trial and error" to see you through!

...my pics do not do the beauty of this bow any justice...but I'll post'em anyway...

...and one more pic...I can't say how gratifying this little project ended up being...

Thank you for the post. You did a real fine job. Looks great. Gil

Thanks Gil...it's been a REAL learning experience...and a very enjoyable one!

If you have already registered, please

sign in now

For new registrations

Click Here