I was attempting to clean up a new to me bow that has some adhesive and scuffs on it and ended up putting some light surface scratches in the finish. I used too much pressure with a cotton rag and made a few new scratches. There are also a number of white scuff marks I want to try to remove. What product would you recommend to remove the light scratches and remove the white scuffs on the finish of the bow. I'm not quite ready for a re- finish, just want to see if there is something I can do to get most of it on the surface.

buff with a fine rubbing compound then a couple coats of wax??

I've used Goo-Gone and a rag for the sticky stuff, not sure about scratches, but a wipe-down with wax as Andy Man suggested sounds like a good idea.

I`m with Andy. Some good carnuba car wax cleans and shines nice in the end

I would do like Andy man. You may want to try going to a automotive paint store. They have various rubbing compounds for rubbing out paint jobs on cars. Stuff I have for rubbing out my Flyrods is almost as smooth as face cream. That and I use 1200-1500 grit sandpaper.

Shawn is correct with the peanutbutter. I would use carnauba wax on 0000 steel wool and gently rub it in and lightly buff it with cheesecloth. You may need to do that a few times, or use the steel wool and a little True oil let it dry and rub it out. The 3rd option is ignore it and enjoy your new bow. Good luck

I use Johnson’s floor wax

Get some Mequair's CLear Coat Swirl Remover. It's great at removing light scratches and bringing out a high gloss shine.

Well heck, now you don't have to fret over the possibility of putting a scratch on it, you can just relax and enjoy shooting it. LOL

Add toothpaste to the list?

I use a marine carnauba wax, has UV protection.

Send it to me and buy a new one ;^) Just kidding. You got the best solutions right off the bat. >>>>------> Ken

What Phil said!

You really want to hit it with an abrasive every time it gets scratched?

I like the Johnsons also. I had a like jar of Black Eboney from a body shop that takes out swirls. Any body shop products work usually.

Toothpaste will also and isn't as abrasive as rubbing compound.

Gee if Peanut butter can buff out a bow whats it do to our insides and I love Peanut butter cookies too.

No wonder I am cleaned out I think? I'm going to try that but if I get into the jar I might as well sit on the floor and put my paw in it like a bear and forget all about the bow clean up. LOL

Keep scratching it!

I use Novus 2 Fine Scratch Remover. I first got it from an airplane guy. Used it to buff airplane windows. I use it with a cheap 4" buffing pad in a cordless drill. You can get an 8 oz bottle on ebay for $10 or $12. Something like that. Buff the glass and the riser with it. Works wonders. A bottle will last a long time.

0000. steel wool has always worked for me for gunk,and scratches.Then poly.

I'm still stuck on how did you damge a bow rubbing it with a cotton rag?

Never done that in over 40 years. My guess is the scratches are through the finish and you didn't notice them previously. If they are that bad you'll likely have to reapply finish.

Another what Phil said . ...

It’s a battle scar. Bows are tools enjoy it.

RonL

Go to an auto parts place and get you a bottle of Meguiar's #7 Show Car Glaze and use that. Use it on the whole bow, be sure and use a non abrasive cloth both putting on and buffing off.

I often use Meguiars Fine Cut polishing compound followed up by the Meguiars Glaze if I wany a shiney result.

…,then scratched your head... Fix it or leave it, one of the two.

Thanks for the advice guys. Maybe I will stop at O'Reilly and see what they carry that might work. Ya I'm not too worried about it. The bow is pretty nice for the most part but it already had some horizontal crazing in the finish. Its a 45 or 46 year old bow so it was far from perfect when I got it. It still has the Victor sticker on it so I'm pretty sure the finish is original. The new scratches are not that bad but they just kind of irritate me because I know I caused it. Just trying to fix my mistake if possible without causing more problems.

Now she is ready to hunt with. Heck my bow is scratched to pieces. Makes em shot good. Lol.

If the polishing compound and wax don't work, get a can of Min-Wax Wipe-On Poly. Put a really thin coat over JUST the scratched area using your fingers.

Typically you can feather it out and make it VERY dificult to notice.

battle scars are awesome.

adds character :)

Get a new bow

^Get a new bow.^. Now that’s funny lol

Battle scars are cool, dumb ass scars, not so much! LOL!

I tried some rubbing compound. That seems to have taken the scratches down some. I'm going to try it some more tonight then put a coat of wax on. I think that's going to work.

If it is really wearing on you and the polish doesn't quite cut it, then some 3000 grit wet or dry used wet lightly followed by the polish. I use 3000 grit paper dry lightly as the last pass on a gun stock finish before I hand rub to level out a seasoned finish. You'll be surprised how fine it is.

Gave it a good treatment with the rubbing compound and followed up with wax and I would say the bow looks much better. Achieved what I set out to accomplish. Most if not all of the scuff marks are gone and the minor scratches I put on are no longer there. I'm happy with how things turned out. Thanks for the tips!

Ive been wrestling with the same. I recently aquired a beeeeutiful recurve. But I beleive it may have had snake skins that were removed. appears there is something left of the bow (possibly glue). Its transparant but there a few scrathed or mars on it. The boyer said he'd do a refinish for 95 but I thought about doing it myself. its a hunting bow so I know the animals dont care. But the wood is gorgeous.

Here she is.

That's a good reason to get another new bow.

i'm with Phil on this one .Miguiare's swirl remover. The light cut,about #3 on the bottle scale works good for light scratches.They also have a little heavier cut if they are very deep.It is a real good product and has no silicon.

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