Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: PaulN/KS on September 19, 2019, 12:00:00 pm
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I had to do a repair and re-tiller on an osage bow and now have the bright yellow wood on the belly and a small section on the side of a limb. I left the older darker wood on the bow's back.
Any suggestions on a stain to blend the wood? If it was just the belly I'd let it go but since I had to remove wood from the section side of one limb it sorta looks weird.
And yes, I know I could just sand it all down but I really don't want to risk messing up the back.
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I say leave it Paul, it just looks cool if you asked me.
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You could wipe on strong ammonia until it’s the color you like. Household stuff could work, might come off a bit light. I’ve done this to age repairs on cherry furniture and to quick-age bits of osage.
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Ammonia eh..?
Might try that on that spot on the side of the limb then, as Pearly suggested, leave the belly wood as it is.
Thanks Guys. :OK
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After it’s darkened once you’ll be surprised how fast it will turn again after a day in direct sunlight.
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I sun bathe some of mine, and it is amazing how quickly the shade gets darker and darker. Each day is noticeable.
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That's what I'd do, lay it in the sun. :OK
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Bleach it.
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I say slap it in a tanning bed somewhere.
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I too have noticed that old osage changes back to aged color again quicker.
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I think that I'll just lightly sand the sides down to the brighter yellow and then leave it to darken as time allows.
Funny thing, we all think that sunlight is what darkens the wood but, over the years, I have split logs that had checks and cracks in the heartwood, well out of the light. The wood inside the checks was darker and I am starting to lean toward oxidation as being a cause.
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I store my staves/billets in a jet black corner of the basement, they get as dark as any of it. Sun speeds it up Im guessing. I laid a bow out in my lawn last summer. After about 5-6 hours I could already see where the string loop was, it was a few shades lighter.