Bow Maintenance

[BowJunkie]

Has anyone started a thread on how to "properly'' maintain a bow, so it will last ?
Johnny

[Pat B]

I have to admit once I finish a bow I rarely do anything else to it except shoot it or unbrace and hang it. Generally I only have them for a year or two anyway. 

[BowJunkie]

well I'm kinda still new to the primitive ways,,,
and was just wondering, If you seal a bow with wax, fat you know "natural ways" ;
is there other thing you can do to prolong the life once a bow is completed?
The reason I ask, My first bow I built was a red oak board bow.
I have had this bow for three years and sealed it with beeswax once a year .
Today I was shooting the bow indoors... and wouldn't you know it craaaaaaaaaack.   
This bow has been kept at a constant temp of about 70-75'
The bow did not explode, but you could definitely hear the crack.
I did back the bow with silk backing so I guess after 3 years of shooting it, the silk backing served its job.
I loved this bow, it was my first, so maybe I should give it a proper burial ?

[cracker]

It's an old friend hang it on the wall as a form of retirement.Ron

[Pat B]

I seal most of my bows with Tru-oil. Five or 6 coats usually does it for me. On some of my more primitive bows I use bear fat. With the bear fat I add a bit now and them just to replenish the finish.
  With wood bows you never know if or when it might give out or crack. That is just the nature of an all natural bow. I have had self bows blow after thousands of shote for no obvious reason but after studying the broken bow I usually find out why it happened.