starting a new ALB

[Pat B]

Got a few more coats of Tru-Oil on today and added the floppy rest. Will wrap the handle tomorrow with hemp cord and set that in Massey finish then when that cures she'll be ready for more shooting.     

[Mad Max]

Massey finish, do you wipe yours on Pat??.
https://www.tradgang.com/tgsmf/index.php?topic=145963.0

I have done it before Devcon 2 ton epoxy .84 fluid oz. and 1/3 cup of Acetone , I double the recipe for about 6 coats out of a spray gun (1 coat every 30 min.), very shiny, I dull it down with 0000 steel wool and us a 3M Final finishing pad to finish it. you can scrub it as hard as you want to polish.
https://www.amazon.com/Devcon-31345-Ton-Clear-Epoxy/dp/B0006O8QQ0
https://www.amazon.com/3M-10199NA-8-Inch-Finishing-2-Pack/dp/B007FXKGAO/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

[Pat B]

Mark, I only use the Massey finish to set the cord wrap on the handle and not as a bow finish. I don't measure the ingredient but mix up a wad of 2 ton epoxy add enough acetone to make it watery then daub it on the cord wrap.
This helps seal the handle, helps stick the wrap to the handle and gives it a positive grip. I have pics of my process that I'll post when I look them up.

[Mad Max]

 

[Pat B]

Mark, I can't find the pics but I'll take new ones as I do the handle wrap and Massey finish soak.

[Mad Max]

Ok cool

[Pat B]

Here goes the handle wrap.
You have to be sure you wrap the cord the correct direction, going the way your fingers point. If you go the other direction the wrap can loosen over time.
I start the wrap at the top of the handle ares, under the floppy rest for this bow. I lay the tag end along the back of the bow and wrap the cord over the tag...


...and wrap 10 or so wraps over the tag...


clip off the tag and continue on...



When you get near the bottom of the handle lay a separate loop down ans wrap over it...


once you get to the bottom of the handle cut the cord and stick the end through the loop and pull the end of the cord through under the wrap and pull tight then clip the excess cord...


...after the handle wrap is complete I like to singe the loose threads that stick out with a cigarette lighter. I didn't take a pic of this.

Now, get the Massey finish ready to saturate the cord wrap. These are what you need to do this...


I'll do the mixing and saturating tomorrow.

[Pat B]

Here is my process for saturating the cord wrap handle. I use 2 paper towels folded and rolled up for the applicator...




then I put a wad of 2ton epoxy in a clean container and mix it well...


then pour about 1/3 of this container with acetone and mix it until the epoxy dissolves...


..and use the rolled paper towel applicator to saturate the cord on the handle. I use as much as it will take...


once the wrap is saturated it time to wait for the acetone to evaporate and the epoxy to cure. I don't use any particular recipe. It really doesn't seem to matter for this application.

[Pat B]

I forgot to show the Floppy Rest applied. I use a sharp razor to bevel the edges that will be under the wrap so the wrap will be smooth.
This bow is symmetrical so I grab the handle with my middle finger at the middle of the handle(balance point) and put a mark on the handle at the top of my hand. This is where the rest of the floppy will be. I use contact cement on the bow and floppy Rest, let both dry well then put them together.

[Mad Max]

Looks good Pat
I always though the epoxy would make the wrap hard and uncomfortable to hold??

[Pat B]

It does make it hard but I don't find it uncomfortable. You can try it at the Classic. 

[Pat B]

I got her finished up today. I shoot another 25 arrows through her this morning and she shoots quite well. There is still a little hand shock but not bad. After being braced for an hour and shooting 25 arrows she still held 1" of reflex immediately after unbracing. Her draw weight is 43#@26" but she seems to shoot more like a 50# bow.



The string does track off the left side of the bow. That must have happened at glue up. Not much to do about that now but she still shoots fine.

[Roy from Pa]

Looks very nice, Pat...

[Buemaker]

Looking very good.

[Mad Max]

Cool Pat