Main Discussion Area > English Warbow
a wet spring.
Lloyd:
Actually is says "always rub it or else..." and you can never take Elizabethan writing literally
England is a wet place and I agree that wax alone cannot be the ultimate sealer even in the 16th century although they obviously had lots of experience in maintaining their bows and other woodwork. But if you did wax your bow every day before you went out shooting it would pretty much water proof it temporarily at least. And if I was on campaign and my life depended on my bow you can bet my wax encrusted fingers that I'd be rubbing the damned thing down every chance i got, and the bow bag too! I've see wood work that's had a gazillion (give or take a few) layers of beeswax on it and it may as well have been varnished. All I ever put on my war arrows is linseed oil and wax and I've never had any problems with moisture. Granted arrows are not the same as bows but I think you get my point...
briarbrow:
Ah yes, my typo sorry.
I like oil, wax finishes too. Wax is quite serviceable in a limited manner as waterproofing. Liquid though is not the problem. vapor will certainly pass through the treatments described.
Badger:
I wonder if packing a bow in a container that was fairly well sealed and contained salt if the salt would collect the moisture in the case? Steve
SimonUK:
--- Quote from: briarbrow on May 10, 2007, 10:56:32 pm ---
However with a lack of sound moisture proofing isn't a possible solution to add more wood, resulting in a high draw weight dry bow, somewhat lower draw weight wet bow?
--- End quote ---
That's a very good point. Someone would have to make a replica, store it in the same conditions and then test the draw weight.
duffontap:
I think this is one of the many reasons why they preferred Yew. The moisture content of Yew doesn't make as much of a difference as it does in white woods like ash or elm. Hickory can make superior flight bows at low moisture content, but it would not have been practical while campaigning in the pouring rain.
J. D. Duff
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