Bear Grease

[paleryder]

I'm a relative new bowyer having built about four bows. I'm curious about the use of bear grease by Native Americans. I'm not sure why they used the bear grease. I've seen some reference to the bows being "seasoned" with bear grease. Why was the grease used? Was it merely to reduce/regulate the loss of moisture because they shaped the bow early in the process or does adding grease and heating it do something beneficial to the wood? Thanks.

Aidan

[DanaM]

Welcome to PA paleryder, I do believe they used bear and other animal grease as a waterproofing,

[paleryder]

Dana,

Thanks. I vaguely remember reading that after roughing out the bow, the Indians would coat them in bear grease and hang them somewhere warm. I believed that this was to reduce the loss of moisture because they reduced the limbs before the wood was fully seasoned.

I did infer from another article that the grease was used later on for waterproofing. Are you familiar with this process? Is it any better than modern sealants/oils/varnishes? I've never applied heat to my bows for this purpose.

Thanks again.

Aidan

[DanaM]

No I'm not familar with it but hoefully bob or jamie will see this they are intimately familar with it.

[Ryan_Gill_HuntPrimitive]

it had some medicinal purposes too, a liitle to fix an ear ache...(but i dont know why)

also use some grease and rub it into a limb if you are using heat to bend it.

also i have found it very usefull in "lubricating" stone points.  just like with anything else i believe a lubricated stone point will penetrate further  - Ryan

[Hillbilly]

Bear grease is an excellent waterproofer. I doubt that it's as good of a moisture vapor barrier as modern finishes, but it will definitely keep water out of things. I used to use it to waterproof my leather boots, and it worked great for that. A friend of mine was rendering some bear grease out on his deck when he accidentally spilled it. He said that rain water beaded up on that spot for a year or more. With the grease finishes, it's more of a continuous process-regular greasings, warmed and rubbed into the wood.

[Coo-wah-chobee]

...........Like Hillbilly said. Additionally, I think that the grease replaces the water in the wood so that the cells dont collapse when a potential bow is boned hard again an again as it dries. I have been using bear and hawg grease on bows fer a long time. No complaints.There is another thing here. Bows were greased and then placed ta warm at top of lodge by smoke hole. Formaldehydes are in the smoke and they play a role in this but thats another story. Did the foks that did this know that ? Leave that up ta y'all. Hmm......... dont know about modern finishes bein' more effective..........bob

[El Destructo]

it had some medicinal purposes too, a Little to fix an ear ache...(but i dint know why)

Indians also used ones own Urine to fix an ear infection and other Infections too....but I aint about to do that....even though I am 1/4 Ojibwa!!! but I can tell you that Grease mixed with Bees Wax....and either Hand rubbed...or heated in with a Hair Dryer will make a good Waterproofing and wood conditioner...but like Hillbilly said....it has to be done regularly....but I like these finishes better than Urethanes and Varnishes myself

[paleryder]

Thanks, guys. Your answers have been very helpful.

Aidan

[Hillbilly]

Bob, I'd like to see a test on the grease vs. urathane or something for vapor barrier. I know that anything couldn't be better at keeping pure water out than bear grease. Plus I like the idea of using something out of a bear a lot better than using something out of a can.   I remember once when I was a kid my mom was cooking a big greasy bear roast in a pressure cooker when the little hooey on top got stopped up and the whole durn thing exploded. We had a waterproof kitchen for a long time.  

[Pat B]

Steve, Was that Barry knocking over the bear fat renderings? It was on Alan's porch in H'ville. The spot is still water proof.
  Like Steve said, I believe bear grease prevents water from soaking in to wood but doesn't prevent the water vapor from coming out. It allows the wood to dry slowly and evenly so the wood doesn't check. That is actually an ideas situation for curing wood...and then later Bob can tell us about the Formaldehydes.       Pat

[JackCrafty]

Bear grease supposedly has a very pleasant, mild taste (in addition to it's "water-regulating" abilities).  This would be especially beneficial if you like to hold arrows in your mouth while shooting....

I'm gettin' some so I can experiment with it.  I'll let you guys know what I find out.

[Hillbilly]

Pat, yea, that was Barry. Why buy Thompson's water seal when you can just rub a bear all over your deck? 

Bear grease supposedly has a very pleasant, mild taste (in addition to it's "water-regulating" abilities).  This would be especially beneficial if you like to hold arrows in your mouth while shooting....

Bear grease is good for cooking. I've eaten quite a few biscuits that were made with bear grease for shortening.

[George Tsoukalas]

I never used bear grease but have used bacon grease on bows and arrows. Excellent waterproofer. Jawge

[TreyNC]

Another reason bear grease was used is that there is so much of it. If you have ever skinned a bear in the fall you understand.