Rawhide back finishing

[BrokenArrow]

Suggestions for how to finish rawhide on an osage bow? Rawhide is white in color

[Pat B]

This was done with a dry sponge and leather dye. I used 2 colors and just blotted it on the rawhide back.


this is another I did the same...


I drew stick figures in two hunting scenes of this one...


This one I used acrylic craft paint...


Rawhide backing is like an artists canvas, you can use all sorts of decorations and your imagination to come up with something cool.

[aaron]

I am about to post one I dyed with vinegar and steel wool- stay tuned...

[PEARL DRUMS]

Rawhide will take Minwax stain well. Lots of options.

[bubby]

I always liked the one with the cave art o. It pat, I've done the same as pat but used a bunched up plastic bag instead if a sponge, u can also use feathers to apply the dye and get a neet effect

[RBLusthaus]

I use alcohol leather dye on raw hide.  It soaks it up blotchy, which I think looks good -  like camo.    Tru oil over all to seal.

Russ 

[Springbuck]

  I second the alcohol based leather dyes.  I also like Dean Torges method  from TBB articles about fading from one color to another.  Works on boring white wood, as well.

[Pat B]

You can make your own dye by adding Rit cloths dye to alcohol. I think unsweetened Kool-Aid works with alcohol too.

[Carson (CMB)]

I prefer water based dyes only because I tend to use shellac as a finish or at least a basecoat.  Shellac, dissolved in alcohol will bleed alcohol based stains.  Bleeding effect can be cool, just not something you want to find out unintentionally.