Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: bjrogg on August 09, 2016, 09:40:02 am
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I'm curious if it is harmful for my bow to shoot it when the humidity is so high. I'm sure some woods are affected more than others mine so far are HHB and ash.
Bjrogg
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BJ if the bow is sealed well it takes days for ambient humidity to leave or enter the bow. In other words, if you leave the bow in the house and take it outside to shoot for a few hours, it wont change a thing. If you leave that same bow outside for 4 or 5 days, it will suck up some moisture from the air. Elm and hickory seem to change the most and the fastest.
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Ditto,and even at 4 to 5 days I never notice much at all.Even with my hickory sinewed bows.I can only speak from my end here.I've heard lots of contrary talk and can only guess something is not sealed properly then or something.
Everyone does things their own way.I keep my place inside at 50% humidity.I tiller the bow at 50% humidity.I store the bow at 50% humidity.
A for instance here....I would'nt be afraid to take a sinewed bow out camping and elk hunting for 2 weeks.My sinewed bows are outside 50% of the time through 2 months of deer hunting with no ill effects.Even on very dewey and foggy mornings.
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I usually don't even pay attention to humidity, it shouldn't hurt anything. I shoot mine whenever I want too. The only time I've brought one in is if it starts raining.
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as stated the finish is the key to woods sensitive to moisture,, I have heard Jay Massey would keep his sinew bows in a tube with those packets that wick moisture on camping trips,, I think if you live in a very humid area,, using woods not sensitive to moisture is a good idea,, but if you have a favorite bow that is hickory,, then keep it dry when not hunting put on a good finish and it will do the job for you,, if seeing hard use, ,re finish every year or so,,, I will add that there is a big difference in shooting a bit outside,, and camping hunting in the rain for a week ,,, as far as the bow taking on moisture,, :)
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I have two sinew bows 1 maple & one hickory and I always hesitated to take them out on hi humidity days but with this summer ,rain & humidity I did any way and found out they were fine shot the same ,I sealed mine with 6 or 7 coats of poly then waxed seemed to work ,even purposely shot in the rain one day worked fine like was said meticulously sealing the the bow worked for me.
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I won't even bother to make a bow from Hickory. I've watched them go from #70 in the morning to #40 and no cast by lunch. about the only white wood I like using is Vine Maple and HHB. If anybody can find a Hickory stave in my shop you can have it.
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Your sure you got the hickory good and dry too before making a bow?
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That is before you sealed it.
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I hunted with it for 5 years before I sold it. It lasted another 7 before it broke. Hunting in knee deep water in 85-90 DG weather gets a little steamy. Our season in Central Fl. opens next weekend, the 'Glades opened the end of July and I've had 5" of water since Friday. Osage is King ;D
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well nobody said it was perfect,, :) :) :)
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I agree with PD.
I shoot and then bring the bow back into AC.
Jawge
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I heard that with ash, bowyer must be particular careful as it likes to really "drink" all humidity it can find. I think that Will S said when he made ash warbows in winter that he constantly put them above radiators when not working on them!
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Ash, elm and hickory all suck it up faster than most woods. But a little, tiny, bit of thought can make them all very usable all year.
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Stalker....That's right during the construction keeping it dry helps.
mullet...I'm glad to hear the old hickory died a good death anyway.I got a friend who use a BBO in such a manner as a walking stick in swamps in Alaska moose hunting.While the bow survived it is a worn out string followed bow now.
I may have overstated about hickory a bit but it does get to 80 to 90 % humidity here plenty often and hickory does hold up for me anyway.
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The challenge with those types of wood [Hickory/Elm] is keeping the dry while I am building, after that making sure it is good and dry before sealing. Once sealed no real problem with as Pearl said just a little
extra care. Store it in a dry place unstrung when not being used. They usually get 8 or 10 coats of tru oil
and some times Turtle wax them if I know they are going to be out in really bad conditions for an extended amount of time. A lot of folks don't take the time to care for them but I have done it for years and treat all my bows with care. :) Even the King[Osage] ;) ;D ;D ;D
Pappy