Thank you fellas, I usually dont make stuff that short or pull that far really getting my "feetwet" on Ironwood in various stages of dead and standing, new, etc. Thanks Pappy.
What I use for finish is a "tweeked-down" version of the NA wood treatment in this area. They would have soaked the bow in bear or deer fat (liquified and hot) then "warmed near a fire" followed there after with coats of fat/beeswax and more fat every so often. The elders told me "it keeps the woods elasticity". I did not care for the feel of it and the wife wasn't wild about the smell in "her" house. So here is what I made and use.
I start with spruce gum (there's a lot of blue around here but I dont think the species matters). I'll melt that down till I got about half of a quart saucepan full and add into it about 2 cups of rendered fat (have also used crisco) I then add beeswax untill the stuff is a little stiffer than toothpaste when cool. The way I check that is take your stir stick and wipe some paper or carboard and when the smear is cool you can feel the consistency. When it's all done just set it aside for use when you want it.
How to apply: I use a small flat stick to spread it one the bow (1/2 at a time) then use a hair dryer or heat gun to heat up the goo. The wood will suck that stuff right up. Now buff the excess off with a rag and set it aside. In about 1/2 hour that bow should feel smooth and maybe slightly waxy but otherwise dry. Ya can repeat that a bunch of times if you want to but the hot stuff will only go in soo deep. After you are satisfied with the "feel" of the bow's surface give a coat of neutral shoepolish or mink oil boot treatment warm that and buff like shinnin shoes. The maintainance is to use the shoepolish as often as necessary to keep the bow from feeling "dry" to the touch. I do it every time I come in from hunting (shoe polish warmed with a dryer) but that might be overkill. Water, snow and ice.....no problem
no real big secret here fellas.
rich
