Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Lee Lobbestael on May 26, 2011, 07:40:58 pm
-
What are some of your guys' favorite stains for bow? I know different woods stain drastically different. Any pictures would be cool!
-
personally i hardly ever use stain
once i get to that point i just want to get it sealed and call it done
thats an unneeded step by my standards
besides i like the natural look of the wood
but thats just me ;)
-
I like to use fiebings alcohol based leather dye and tru oil finish. Try oil is expensive but makes for a stunning finish.
-
i like using different ritt fabric dyes mixed with denatured alcohol. they dry in like 15 minutes and you are ready to put the finish on. I will see if I can russle up some pics.
-
here's some.
red and black ritt dye mixed with denatured alcohol and tru oil.
(http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c120/deftones3333/IMAG0055.jpg)
(http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c120/deftones3333/IMAG0057.jpg)
(http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c120/deftones3333/IMAG0053.jpg)
brown and black ritt dye
(http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c120/deftones3333/bow%20for%20sinew/kdk_1614.jpg)
(http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c120/deftones3333/bow%20for%20sinew/kdk_1613.jpg)
(http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c120/deftones3333/bow%20for%20sinew/kdk_1590.jpg)
-
My favorite by far is osage stain, made from boiling osage wood chips in water and then letting it boil down to a thick stain. I use stain only on red oak board bows really, but it gives it such a nice color, if ya double it ya can get a real nice hue.
-
I really am starting to like the charcoal stain on white woods.
Josh
-
I like the look of walnut hull stain.
-
I'm with you Josh(Elktracker). That is my favorite stain for whitewood and hickory especially. I have used Rit Dye with alcohol and Fiebings leather dye but prefer no dye on osage and other woods that darken with age.
-
Hey pat I mix mine with water or I have mixed it with the sealer I use how do you apply it? I was just thinking there may be a better option aside from water?
-
ooh, good topic.
I just discovered vinegar + steel. just pop a wad of steel wool in some white vinegar, wait a couple days and you have a nice grey stain that makes white woods look weathered- like the grey color of old cedar shingles, sometimes produces a reddish grey- don't know why yet.... This stain darkens with exposure to sunlight and with age...
Josh, and others mention charcoal stain- what's that?
in the photo, from top to bottom
sitka spruce stained (all these had a couple coats)
sitka spruce unstained
vine maple and braintan stained
vine maple, part with "regular" minwax type stain and part no stain.
-
The last couple ash and hickory bows with Minwax Red Oak Stain. the ash especially takes it well. Sorry no pics at the moment.
-
Josh, the last few I did I used bear grease. I have used linseed oil and I've used turpentine and hand rub it in. I have done it with water but water lifts the grain.
aaron, I use finely ground charcoal and hand rub it into the wood with oil.
-
I like using fiebing's leather dye and rubbing alcohol because it looks good, dries fast, and I feel like I have more control over how it's going to look. I have used minwax wood stain a few times and I like it but not as much as leather die. I haven't tried other options yet....
-
ooh, good topic.
I just discovered vinegar + steel. just pop a wad of steel wool in some white vinegar, wait a couple days and you have a nice grey stain that makes white woods look weathered- like the grey color of old cedar shingles, sometimes produces a reddish grey- don't know why yet....
FWIW I've never finished a bow, but I've done a whole lot of custom furniture finishing.
The stain you mention causes color change in the woods when the iron oxide reacts with the tannins in the woods. The strength of the reaction is determined by the tannin content in the wood. Woods like oak and walnut usually contain a lot of tannin so they produce quite a change. The finish is a common finish for mission style furniture makers and I'm told that if you pretreat your wood with tannic acid you can get a stronger (darker) reaction but I've not tried it mysellf.
One thing to remember about dyes is that most of them fade with UV exposure and your beautiful, bold colors end up being pastels over time. There are newer metalized dyes that are much more fade resistant. I prefer Transtint myself and they can be mixed with water, alcohol, paint thinner or oil for application. Pigment stains are much more fade resistant but have a tendency to hide the grain more than dyes. Most of the Minwax stains are a combination of the two.
-
I only stain white woods mainly because I only build HICKORY AND OSAGE but do build some others. I use rit dyes I used water and alcohol. Water will raise the grain and get duler with age. Which I like on my hunting bows. I've also used leather dyes these seam to be a little more richer color. But prefer rits.
-
Thanks guys! that gave me some great ideas to try! I like the idea of steel wool in vinegar. Nice and simple sounding. Might have to try that next