I picked this bow up from a friend at Whittingham. On a mission to restore/repair. Ole fuzz bet me I couldn't. Game on!

Neat looking riser. Good luck!

Thank you!

She's sweet Shane. Take Jo boo with grain of salt he don't want yours to look better than his broom.

Lol, Glenn. I think he would cry. He does that well.

Ugly limb colors on that jalopy, but it looks like it was made around when mine was built. What is the serial number?

Joe

7984

Lol! I honestly almost bought that one at Whittingham! The only reason I did not, was the areas on the back of the limbs where the gel coat was near gone. I know there is a way to repair that, but a little beyond my comfort zone. The other stuff should be a simple affair. Glad to see you are gonna try and bring her back. It's a beautiful bow!

Aaron, I left it for Tom to sell. When we were packing up,I told him we will work something out and I was taking it to try and revive. Herb and I were looking at it and talking all weekend about that bow.

Please keep us posted on your progress. There was a beautiful Howatt hanging with that Drake that would also be a stunner, with some TLC.

Following...

Lots of in progress pics, please.

Mine is 7749, so they are fairly close.

Joe

Bought everything needed for this project

maybe Black is for men where the light Aqua might have been for the Ladys. Joe might have a lady's model?LOL

I ask Ed Holcom this weekend if he can build me a 54'er all laminated up exotica bow that could have topped any of Harrys super models. This would be a super bow on steroids so to speak. Another show stopper. LOL

Maybe? Who knows?

Shane, you have a really collectable bow that was made by one of the best (real) bowyers of all time. Drake used a finish made by Dutchboy Paints, and it didn't hold up too well over time. I, also, would like to see the bow when you get it done!

That hazing in the limbs, is that in the finish or the glass. At any rate it is easy to see where the work is getting done in the limbs. My Jack Howard had something similar, but closer to the tips.

It's not an easy job, but I believe this will be a shooter. Ed didn't think it would be. My goal is to get it the best I can with limited resources.

Are you gonna try to get a "gel like" coating where the fibers are coming through? I know Rich Lopez has repaired that sort of thing.

No problem refinishing that bow. I've refinished bows with similar original finish wear. I am still learning, but I get a little better each time. Right now I'm struggling to get a great finish on a bow that had a ok stock finish. It had a refinish over the original 1975 finish. Removing both finishes took a couple of months of careful stripping, scraping and sanding. I like it that refinishing these vintage bows is ok, value-wise. Sure, a mint, original finish is preferable, but to bring a good bow back and get it back into the game is a good thing.

Some company makes a fiberglass resin for gun stocks. I have sanded that area down. Have used that stuff before and may try to find it again. Can't remember the name.

Brownells Acraglass

http://shop.brownells.com/gunsmith-tools/stock-work-finishing/stock-bedding-adhesives/acraglas-gel-reg-4-oz-acraglas-gel-sku081015004-1038-3788.aspx

Just ordered some.

This is where we stop and wait for product to come in.

Nice tips.

so, what have you actually used to get the bow to this point? I'm going to refinish a little bear alaskan for my nephew and could use the knowledge. :)

That's looking good! Now I wish I did take a chance and make an offer;-)

Used 200 gritt sand paper. Put a little super glue on rough spot, but probably did not need. Some nice gloss poly on parts leaving rough spot open for Acraglass. That poly is nice! Never spray can again..This bow is really coming out nice. Strung it to make sure it holds. Anxious to finish.

Yes, this looks like crap now, but after it hardens, can be sanded

BEAUTIFUL BOW, Hope that it will finish well! Batman

It's wet and I am getting some weird glares on phone camera, but here is where the bad was.

Will, sand again when dry a few more times and coat, but Acraglass did its job.

Where is the repair? ??

looking good... thanks!

that looks very good. nice to see these older bows restored.

That turned out well, nice job!

Thank you, will post more pics when completed and ready to shoot

Post pics of shooting the bow too. It looks great!

Joe

Good job.

Done, need a little bit better string.

Raise your brace to about 7.5".

Joe

Thank you Joe. Are lower limbs on these Drake's always that much stiffer than upper?

Most bows have a slightly stiffer lower limb.

That stiff lower limb was the first thing I noticed on the bow. Exactly like mine. My bow shot like garbage with a low brace height Skookum advised. The poor guy obviously doesn't know any better. Anyway, I got the BH up to 7.5" and it's a real performer! Yours might not need it, but if you have any shock or excess noise, go to 7.5.

Joe

So glad to see that bow saved Shane! It looks fantastic!

Sweet but whens Joe going to graduate to the upper class men? LOL

And get his dressed up and looking sweet to like the rest of us Drake owner / Shooters.

Waidaminnit.... You mean you took that bow that far.. in A WEEK?

You know, ordinarily, I don'y like a high-gloss finish, but that one looks like it shouldn't go any other way....

Just wondering if you strung and shot bow before the labor of refinishing?

Paul, I did not shoot this bow before all of it's labor. Matt, I worked on this bow a lot within the past week. Dedication and lots of love. This was a fun project, and even better being a donation bow. Will work something out with Tom. Ready to shoot this baby.

Sweet looking bow.

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