Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Michael C. on June 24, 2009, 11:59:47 am
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I read that sunlight(UV) is what causes Osage to turn the golden brown to darker brown that it does over time. I am not even sure what wavelength colors the Osage but I would guess UV. Has anyone tried using a black light and different camo like leaves and branches to cause shadow and see if it would color the bow with a pattern? I was just curious if anyone has tried this, if I find a black light I think I might give it a go.
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Sounds cool,give it a try and show us how it works,sounds like it might. ???
Pappy
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Interesting idea....I know that the wood under my handle wraps is a lot lighter.
I wonder if the contrast would remain visible over time (when all areas are exposed to sunlight). Let us know.
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Interesting idea. I noticed that some of the osage scraps, that I had setting in the back yard darkened in less than a week. I wonder if you can get enough light from a standard black light to darken it. You might even try a plant grow light. Just a thought.
Please keep us updated on how it works. Id love to see how it all works out and probably try it myself. ;)
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I know that floresent lights will darken it.Not sure about a black light.I suppose since it is photosensitive any light will cause it to darken?
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Cool idea. But wouldn't it all just eventually fade to the same color after a fairly short time?
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It works good!
Only a couple of hours in the sun studio and your bow will be lovely colored.
A member of a german bow- forum tried it allreadyhttp://www.fletchers-corner.de/index.php?topic=10757.15 (http://www.fletchers-corner.de/index.php?topic=10757.15)
acker
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cool....I still have my Black Lights and Glow in the Dark Posters and Fish Nets for the Ceiling ....and yards of Beer Can Pop Top Chains too.......have I given away My Age yet...... :o :P
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Reckon a tanning bed would work? That's some pretty intense light. ???
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I guess I meant for it more to be multi colored and layered instead of just the straight dark golden rotisserie chicken brown.
ADB I think once the pattern was set it would still color over time, but hold the pattern since the exposure would be different on the pattern. I'm sure after about 20-30 years it would eventually hit a peak though.
It works good!
Only a couple of hours in the sun studio and your bow will be lovely colored.
A member of a german bow- forum tried it allreadyhttp://www.fletchers-corner.de/index.php?topic=10757.15 (http://www.fletchers-corner.de/index.php?topic=10757.15)
acker
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Ya Ive done this with the tips of some of my bows, I'd cover all but the tips of my bows for about a week and leave it out in the sun and repeated with the otherside. It gave the wood the naturally darker tips. It turned out pretty cool. I have also noticed that a piece of osage such as the inside portion of a stave split will show the effects of the sun much faster than a finished bow will. So possibly the finishing process and clear coat helps to prevent some of the UV's effects. Ty
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cool....I still have my Black Lights and Glow in the Dark Posters and Fish Nets for the Ceiling ....and yards of Beer Can Pop Top Chains too.......have I given away My Age yet...... :o :P
have you been rumaging thru my attic?
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Tim...did you inherit this stuff?? You aint a Child of the 60's!!!
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If memory serves blacklights are UVa and the UV that causes fade and weathering is UVb, the same UV found in tanning booths in a higher concentration than the sun without the melanoma effects. ha, you could rent a tanning booth for a few hours and that should do it. there are a few clear coats that have major UV blocking properties, that should keep what you want faded faded and the rest like new for a few years. its a really cool idea i must say. best of luck.
Dustin D
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A botanist friend of mine once told me that osage and black locust glow brightly under a black light. Tell me if they do.
Cheers
james
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I have mixed feelings on what causes osage to turn. Sunlight definitely speeds up the process but raw wood exposed to air and never in the light will turn just as dark or darker than finished wood left in the sun. I have staves under my house in a crawl space that is pitch black all the time that are dark purple on the outside.
Here is a bow that has never seen the light of day for more than a hour or so in the last 10 years. I made it for a brother-in-law who loved such things but had MS and only shot it once before MS robbed him of the use of his arms and it went on the wall. It is much darker than the picture shows.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v181/ekrewson/bow%20making/davidsdarkbow.jpg)