Osage color

[occupant]

Does anyone know how to keep the bright yellow color of osage from darkening. I like the color of the almost finished bow and would like to keep it.

[ionicmuffin]

my guess is that it isnt possible to stop the color from changing. maybe im wrong.

[Tortoise]

Over time it will age and darken, the moisture has a lot to do with it, down here where I live (4% humidity summer) if I leave it in the garage it darkens in a week, but if it's in the house it's always bright yellow.

[Weylin]

I think the UV has alot to do with it as well. maybe if you give a good coating of spf 100 before you finish it. 

[Hrothgar]

UV and direct sunlight has a lot to do with it; maybe try a marine grade polurethane that touts superior UV protection.

[SLIMBOB]

  I've read that the wood is photo sensitive and read elsewhere that it oxidizes and changes color.  Not sure which, if either is correct (or maybe both).  I prefer the darkening and set my bows out in the sun to get that nice patina going.  I have bows that range from electric yellow, burnt orange all the way to nearly black.

[Pat B]

You can slow down the color change but you can't prevent it. Using UV blocker finishes will slow it down some.

[Stringman]

I'm with SLIMBOB! Love the color change and wear it like a badge of honor. If you have a dark copper Osage bow then it's been around for awhile. Can't buy that color. Plus it's a lot less offensive in the woods/blends in better.

[sadiejane]

I'm with SLIMBOB! Love the color change and wear it like a badge of honor. If you have a dark copper Osage bow then it's been around for awhile. Can't buy that color. Plus it's a lot less offensive in the woods/blends in better.

have to agree with both these fellas.
when i first started making osage bows, i too wanted to attempt to keep that bright color.
but over time i have grown to really appreciate the change

[BowEd]

I personally agree with most here I like the transformation of color.If you want that lighter color maybe try some mulberry.Maybe that changes too though.Most would will get darker with age just that hedge does it more.

[Pat B]

Mulberry will darken just like osage. As a matter of fact old mulberry is hard to differentiate from old osage except for the physical weight.

[cornus]

This is a freshly cut red mulberry.
 osage not growing here

and a dry

[occupant]

I am making a heavier one of mulberry at the same time. The osage one will be for a daughter and my girlfriend to shoot, they like the bright color that it is now. I'll look for a finish with a high uv block and see over time how it works. Thankyou all for the answers/replies.

[JW_Halverson]

Dear Occupant,

(always wanted to say that)  All else fails, you can just make new bows and trade off the old ones when they get too dark!  That's why I don't have any dark osage bows at my house even though I love the darker colors.

-John

[blackhawk]

Actually I am going to have to disagree with everyone that said you can't keep that electric yellow. There's two ways. One is to sand the bow every few months. And the other is to take a scrap piece of fresh cut osage to your local paint store so they can match the color in paint and paint it..lol.

But I'm a patina man myself