Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: salad days on June 04, 2008, 01:43:53 pm
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Hey all. I'm getting ready to finish a hickory backed/ hickory board bow and I would like to stain or dye it grey and black. I've seen some pro built bows that have grey finish with black in the grains. Anyone now how to acheive this effect. I have 3 rivers alcohol based charcoal stain and grey water based stain. I've tried multi lite coats of both on test peices and did'nt get the contrast I was hoping for. Also tried one coat of the darker stain then light sanding and then lighter colored stain on top but that didn't look very good at all. Any ideas will be appreciated and happily tested.
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I know regular old charcoal rubbed into the wood will usually darken the grain lines up, maybe do this first and then grey on top ???
Let us know if you get something to work eh
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Hickory doesn't take dye or stain well. You'll have difficulty with it. I usually use leather dye.
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I like the looks of charcoal rubbed in like Dana said but if that isn't suitable try diluting your dark stain(I have done this with leather dye and alcohol) then when it dries use the gray over that. Pat
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I've seen one guy who "antiques" his wordwork by staining it with the lighter color first and then adding a dark pigment (like roofing tar...or crushed charcoal) to paste wax and then rubbing it into the wood until it fills the grains (or cracks). I haven't tried this method myself but it seems to produce good results.
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Aaron-
I never tried finishing hickory before, but have my best luck using water based aniline dyes on other wood types. You can get it in powder form from most woodworking shops.
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The silk, Hickory bow that I havew posted was burned with a heat gun and then charcoal rubbed into the grain.
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Here is what I would do. I would paint the hickory with black acrylic paint, thinned with water. When this dries, the grain will be raised. Then sand off the black paint with fine sandpaper and it will all come off except the black paint down in the grooves of the wood. Then come back with thin grey acrylic paint and rub it on with a cloth. Make sure that you rub it so that it will soak into the surface wood but not into the black cracks. When it is dry, then put whatever finish on it you like. I like either Casey's True Oil or a rub on poly. If you want to go "abo," rub the charcoal into the cracks, then put vinegar in a jar and put a piece of steel wool in the vinegar. Let it sit for a few days, then take out the steel wool and rub the solution on the white wood. It will turn a pretty silver grey. I learned this from making instant barnwood frames for my paintings.
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Dirtydan, Thats where I came up with the sanding method that I tried. Basically pickling stain. I never thought to try it with paint. If it works well I'll be in heaven cuz my wife is an artist and has probably a hundred colors of acrylic paint.
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Rick, Where did you get dyes when you lived out here. I can't find a decent wood shop to save my life.
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Good luck, Sunrise. Let me know how it turns out.
Dan
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Aaron- I order them from woodworkers supply .com