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Author Topic: Staining Bamboo  (Read 3550 times)

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Offline Eric Krewson

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Staining Bamboo
« on: September 29, 2017, 07:44:11 am »
I have made a zillion BBOs, all the bamboo was stained with leather dye. The problem with leather dye is it fades over time no matter how dark you put it on. I like the way it goes on and drys quickly but don't like the fading.

When I stain arrows with leather dye they never fade because the dye soaks into the wood better than it soaks into bamboo.

I started another BBO yesterday and was looking for a good alternative to leather dye.

What do you guys use to stain bamboo and how does it hold up over time?

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Offline BowEd

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Re: Staining Bamboo
« Reply #1 on: September 29, 2017, 07:57:08 am »
Good refreshing topic.I'm a user of leather dye too.Might need to use a snake skin to get what you want.
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Ed

Offline leonwood

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Re: Staining Bamboo
« Reply #2 on: September 29, 2017, 09:47:50 am »
On the last few I use acrylic spraypaint, the color will not fade over time but since it is just paint you can scratch it with something sharp. Used some scratch resistance polyurethane varnish over some and that worked really well but was a little too shiney for me.
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Offline bubby

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Re: Staining Bamboo
« Reply #3 on: September 29, 2017, 12:43:11 pm »
I have been using minwax penetrating wood stain, holds up well
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Offline Pat B

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Re: Staining Bamboo
« Reply #4 on: September 29, 2017, 01:37:07 pm »
Eric, have you tried aniline(sp) dye like Dean used?
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Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline sleek

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Re: Staining Bamboo
« Reply #5 on: September 29, 2017, 01:44:36 pm »
What about food coloring? No clue if it will soak in, but bamboo being a grass, it seems like it would absorb water based dyes?
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Offline Eric Krewson

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Re: Staining Bamboo
« Reply #6 on: September 29, 2017, 02:50:22 pm »
Leather dye is anyline dye.
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Offline Pat B

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Re: Staining Bamboo
« Reply #7 on: September 29, 2017, 04:37:39 pm »
Are you removing the rind or at least fine sanding it?  Just eliminating possible problems.  ;)
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Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline Eric Krewson

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Re: Staining Bamboo
« Reply #8 on: September 30, 2017, 07:40:54 am »
Yep, I used to remove all the rind, now I scrape 75% of it off and sand it down to almost nothing except around the nodes. Like I said I have made a bunch of BBOs, at least 50.
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Offline sleek

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Re: Staining Bamboo
« Reply #9 on: September 30, 2017, 09:01:49 am »
What is the shortest bbo you made that pulls 28 and has good cast?
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Tread softly and carry a bent stick.

Dont seek your happiness through the approval of others

Offline Dances with squirrels

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Re: Staining Bamboo
« Reply #10 on: September 30, 2017, 02:36:54 pm »
Are you sure leather dye is the exact same as aniline dyes intended for use on wood? I don't have fading issues at all, that I've ever noticed. Some are almost 20 years old, hang on racks in rooms permeated with natural light and look the same as they ever did. But hey, maybe my eyes are just getting bad.
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Offline Eric Krewson

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Re: Staining Bamboo
« Reply #11 on: September 30, 2017, 04:15:11 pm »
I made BBOs for a lot of people, sold some gave a lot away, I never made a bow for a 28" draw less than 64" ntn. The reason being, if it broke I replaced it, I over built them a bit for longevity. I think I have replaced 2 total.
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Offline dragonman

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Re: Staining Bamboo
« Reply #12 on: October 10, 2017, 08:58:17 am »
I have good success with indian ink..it comes in many colours...its water based  and doesnt really penetrate the rind, but sticks well, looks like dye and doesnt fade
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