Help looking for staining info

[bentstick54]

I’ve tried searching for past posts on people who blended different color stains on their Osage bows with little success. Can anyone help point me in the right direction. Picture of some I’ve saved from somewhere in the past as an example.

[mmattockx]

I would look at superdave's posts, he has done some spectacularly nice staining work in the past.


Mark

[Hamish]

 Dean Torges popularised using dyes on his osage bows.  I would check out his book. and videos. He was a meticulous guy with his woodworking/bowmaking processes.

[Pat B]

 Dean Torges used aniline dye powder with denatured alcohol. Fiebings leather is an aniline dye in alcohol and works well on all bow woods I have tried

[bentstick54]

Thanks guys. Pat I’ve got a couple of shades of Fielbings on hand I’m playing with. Assuming Truoil should go over it fine.

[Hamish]

You should be fine with tru oil. I'd test an area first to make sure, though. Anything like shellac, with an alcohol-based solvent would be a no no.

[Burnsie]

What's the steel wool and vinegar stuff?

[Hamish]

Steel wool and vinegar. I think you could put most clear finishes on top of it.

Never used it on osage, only on white woods. More subtle than modern dyes, takes time to build up depth.

[Pat B]

Tru-Oil is comparable with Fiebings leather dye.