Building my own recurve.

[bassmatt72]

Here it is ready to start putting on the clear coats.

I'll be using Spar urethane from rattle cans. If you wear glasses like I do next time you get new ones keep your old pair and make them shop glasses. I wear them when I'm spraying, keeps my good glasses clean.

Also when I spray anything I like to hold a drop light at an angle from where I'm spraying so I can see where the spray pattern is overlapping.

[bassmatt72]

The first of several clear coats. I'll do two or three light coats then sand with 120 grit, clear coat and sand with finer grit and so on till I'm happy with it.

[Greywolf in Hawaii]

Looking good Matthew.

I write on mine between the 3rd - 4th coats with a paint pen we talked about.

Nice lines.

[AJMag]

Outstanding! I did a couple selfbows with spar and the finish has held up pretty good so far. I was worried it might scratch off with use but hasn't yet. But i also only used it for target practice so it gets an easy life. If you plan on doing more you should look into thunderbird epoxy. Yeah, it's pricey, but I'll never use anything else and there's no telling how many bows or whatever one can will coat.

[ElfEyes]

It looks awesome man you do good work

[bassmatt72]

Thanks everyone! I'm sure I'll be trying some other finishes on my other bows, thats all part of it is learning new things about what you like!

[TMiddleton]

I like the tip about using the drop light while spraying. Good idea

[Bill]

Nice work!

[Greywolf in Hawaii]

I like the tip about using the drop light while spraying. Good idea

Never thought about it, cause I spray out side. Good thought.
when I spray Thunderbird, it's in a controlled well lit area and only one side at a time for coverage.

[Bowtech Lefty]

Awesome work!!!

[Greywolf in Hawaii]

Me thinks Matthew is working way to much !!

[bassmatt72]

Me thinks Matthew is working way to much !!

Yes, a little work and a lot of life responsibilities have caused a little slow down on the build.

[bassmatt72]

I put the first clear coat on and let it cure. That clear sure does make all the imperfections show! I wasn't very satisfied with things so I did a pretty aggressive sanding on the riser progressing to finer grit sand paper. I then wiped it down and clear coated it again, it looks a lot better! When the bow is cloudy is when its sanded and then you can tell the ones after a clear coat is on it.






There will not be much change in how things look, as you can tell from my last pics. to these, over the next few steps. I'll put on three or four more clear coats with progressively finer sanding in between then make another string for it and it will be done! The next pics will be finished pics!

[bassmatt72]

Well guys, I finished it up today! A few more clear coats and sanding, string, puff balls, rest, and tie on nock. The string and puff balls are green, brown, and black to match the color of the bow.


A view at full draw. Man! This bow is shooting great!

Here are several shots of it completed. I'm very happy with it and ready to start planning the next one. My 18 year old daughter and her boyfriend both want a bow!





Thanks to everyone who has followed, looked, or made any posts. I have greatly enjoyed sharing this with my TBH family!

[Hoggslayer]

That turned out very nice. Thanks for taking us along.