Suggested Stain/Finish?

[Christian Soldier]

I've got a pretty wide selection of Stains/finishes at my local hardare store and I'd really like this bow- sassafras flat bow- to look kinda like yew. I have some Jacobeam finish now but it tends to make all the wood one dark color and I'd really like to keep the contrast between the heartwood and sapwood.

Here's a pic of what it looks like now.



Any advice is welcome.

Thanks!

[lesken2011]

Not sure how to make it look like yew, but if you use a water based stain the color you want, my experience is that it does not penetrate as much as oil or alcohol based stains. If it comes out too dark, you can sand areas of the surface you want to be lighter to let more of the wood show through which will lighten it some.