How To Keep Your Kaminski Archery Weights And Tiller Bolts Looking New

Now that Kaminski Archery dampened barebow weights and precision tiller bolts are on risers all over the world, we have been getting a steady stream of questions about maintenance.

The most common ones are very simple.

How do I keep them looking dark and black
Why are they starting to look a little gray
Do I need to worry about rust

The good news is that our parts are built from high quality stainless steel and finished with coatings that are also used in the firearm industry. With a little light oil and a soft cloth they can look deep black again and stay protected for a very long time.

What These Parts Are Made Of

The base material for our weights and tiller bolts is 303 stainless steel, also known as machining stainless. Under normal use it will not rust or turn brown the way plain carbon steel can.

When we add a black finish, we use nitride based treatments that are common on firearm slides and other high wear parts. These processes create a hard, dark surface but can slightly reduce the natural rust resistance of the stainless surface. That is why, just like a quality firearm, a little oil from time to time is an important part of care.

Why They Sometimes Look Gray

If your black Kaminski Archery parts start to look a bit gray or dull, it is usually because the surface has dried out or has picked up dust, moisture, or fingerprints. The coating is still there. It simply needs a light coat of oil to darken and even out the finish again.

We oil every piece before it leaves our shop, but over time that oil can be absorbed into cloth, foam or cases, or worn away by use.

Quick Care Guide

You can use a common product like WD40 or a quality gun oil. Here is a simple way to bring the finish back.

1. Take a clean microfiber cloth.

2. Spray a small amount of oil onto the cloth, not directly onto the part.

3. Wipe the weight or tiller bolt with the oiled area of the cloth, turning the part so you hit all sides.

4. Let it sit for a bit so the oil can soak into the tiny pores in the surface.

You will see the color shift almost immediately from gray to a deeper black. As the oil settles, the finish will look more even and rich.

You do not have to remove the parts from the bow every time. If you have been shooting in rain or very humid conditions, simply wipe them down on the bow with a lightly oiled cloth and then wipe away any extra.

For Stubborn Spots

If you ever see a small patch of surface contamination, dried grime, or a hint of orange on the surface, you can treat it the same way you would a firearm.

• Use a Scotch Brite pad or fine steel wool together with a bit of oil

• Gently rub the affected area until the contamination is gone

• Wipe clean and apply a fresh light coat of oil

The nitride finish is very hard and resistant to scratching. Light cleaning will not remove it. Once you re oil the area, the mark will usually disappear and the part will look uniform again.

How Often Should You Oil Them

For most archers, an occasional wipe down is enough, especially after shooting in wet weather or if the parts have been sitting for a while. If you like your setup to always look deep black and camera ready, you can give them a quick oil wipe whenever you clean or tune your bow.

Whether you use the black nitride coated versions or the stainless versions, a tiny amount of oil now and then will

• Bring back the dark clean finish

• Make the engraved lettering pop

• Help prevent contamination or corrosion in extreme conditions

With this simple care, your Kaminski Archery dampened barebow weights and precision tiller bolts will stay protected and looking sharp for the life of the product.

If you still have questions on maintenance or coatings, you can always reach us through kaminskiarchery.com and we will be happy to help.