Green (hairball colored) Ipe

[Wooden Spring]

I figured I'd start a new thread on this one since I've actually got pictures now...

OK, I've got an ugly green ipe in a bow that I've just roughed out... How do I make this look good? Has anyone used Aquafortis Reagent (available at Track of the Wolf) on a bow before? I've used it to GREAT results on gunstocks before, but I've never tried it on laminated wood, and I've never tried it on a wood like ipe.

Right now, everything is sanded to 80 grit and ready for the tillering tree.

Specs:
68" tip to tip
1.25" @ fades
.5" @ pin nocks
.5" thick @ fades
7/16" thick @ tips
4" long handle, 1" wide, w/ 2" long fades

[Lee Slikkers]

Are you 100% sure its Ipe and not Teak?  The coloration and grain colors sure look like Teak to me...if it is teak you will likely be disappoint with its performance as a bow wood.

[Wooden Spring]

Well, I got it from Atlanta Hardwoods, and they guy sold it to me as Ipe... I trust those guys, so unless the salesman was duped by someone else, I dunno...   If it winds up being teak, I'm going to go and buy the rest of the stack so I can have it ready when I build my boat for the price I paid...

[mikekeswick]

That's ipe to these eyes. I've got two boards just like that. My prediction is that it will take very little set. I don't know if you are going to anyway but ipe works great when the belly is crowned in designs like yours.
Once you oil it up it will look plenty nice! I use a varnish called Rustins Plastic Coat on woods like that.

[echatham]

the ipe i have seen has been redder, but definitely had those green streaks like that.  does it look redder when its wetted?

[DarkSoul]

Yup, that's ipé. I keep emphasizing that ipé is a collective name for multiple botanical tree species. Not all ipé is reddish brown, as most people seem to think. I told you about the board I've used successfully for a few bows in the other thread. That board had about the same color as yours. Maybe yours is a little bit greener. I think it will appear less green when you scrape it or sand it to a finer grit.
Should make a nice bow though, even though you may not like the color...

[Wooden Spring]

Yup, that's ipé. I keep emphasizing that ipé is a collective name for multiple botanical tree species. Not all ipé is reddish brown, as most people seem to think. I told you about the board I've used successfully for a few bows in the other thread. That board had about the same color as yours. Maybe yours is a little bit greener. I think it will appear less green when you scrape it or sand it to a finer grit.
Should make a nice bow though, even though you may not like the color...

Well, I can get used to the color if it makes a good shooter... I'm REALLY utility minded when it comes to that sort of thing, but looking good doesn't hurt.
One thing is for sure, this stuff is TOUGH. I've cut it to 1 1/4" wide at the fades, and it already feels about as stiff as my hickory and oak bows that are 2" wide. I've still got a fantasy about making a 100 pounder... Ummm, just because...  And I may choose this wood for it.     I dunno, we'll see!

[adb]

Looks like ipe to me. I've had ipe from almost black to that colour. It'll become much darker when you apply finish to it.

[Jesse]

Looks like ipe to me

[dwardo]

There are already enough white, yellow and brown bows about and you have green !
Will look great with dome finish on it. Who says u can't make a bow from green wood 

[dbb]

Perfect basecolor  for a camo dyejob 

[blackhawk]

Oh quit your whining and make a bow out of it.....by the time you final sand and seal with tru oil a lot of that will go away,and it'll be just fine....its about how it shoots,and not its looks....u could prob put a stain or dye that is darker in color and cover it all up too if you are annoyed by it

[RyanR]

I like the color combinations.  It will be neat to see how it looks finished.  68" that seems kind of short for you. LOL Sorry I couldnt resist. 

[dane lund]

I wouldn't suggest aqua fortis on any bow wood. Tracks aqua fortis is still acid, and could weaken the structure of the wood. Needs to be neutralized, etc.
 The modern version of that traditional stain is ferric nitrate, and can be purchase as crystals that you dissolve in water or denatured alcohol. It does the same thing, without the need to be neutralized. Ferric nitrate stains by a chemical reaction with the tannins in the wood, so it reacts differently with each piece of wood.
Try it on a scrap before you use it on your bow.

[toomanyknots]

Although tru oil looks great on ipe, I hate when it won't dry. (need to pick some acetone up I guess) I like using pure tung oil on ipe though, it darkens up the wood and looks really pretty, where as lighter woods like hickory don't look as good in comparison, in my opinion. Or maybe hickory just needs more coats than ipe.