Wood finish on a longbow

[N.Vodden]

Hi everybody!

I was thinking of using danish oil to do the finish on my longbow once the nocks have been sorted, and i was just wondering once the danish oil has been applied and dried thoroughly, do you need to put a wax coat or a varnish over it to get a nice polished finish? or will the danish oil look nice enough by itself if you polish it up?

Does anybody have any pictures of arrows or their own bows that have been finished with danish oil? particularly what it looks like on osage.

another question on the side, if you finish an arrow shaft with danish oil, can you glue fletchings on over it or does it have problems adhering to the finished surface?

thanks in advance!

[acehero]

I used Danish oil (neutral/no colour stain) on my arrows. It comes up as a lovely shine afterwards if you give it a polish now and then with a cloth. More like a matt varnish than a gloss. I was thinking of doing the same with my longbow but as it was originally finished with bees wax i dont know how well the danish oil would go on.

[Saxon]

Hello,

Three coats of danish oil on to poplar shafts, fletchings glue on nice and securely with HMG glue.

I would wax the bow after oiling it with danish oil myself as the danish oil just looks bland, wax will give extra protection and polish up. You could also consider the varnish route? So many options so little time.

These are Danish oiled only.

[N.Vodden]

those are nice looking, and a very nice job on the whipping! what thread did you use for that?

[Saxon]

Hello, Guttermans, silk but i can't recall the code. Nice to use but patience is the main thing as it takes a fair while per arrow. Cheers.