Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Dean Marlow on June 10, 2010, 01:41:41 pm

Title: Darkening Osage Recommendations
Post by: Dean Marlow on June 10, 2010, 01:41:41 pm
 I have take down Osage bow that is about complete that  has 2 different colored Osage limbs. I didn't use side by side billets and as you can see one is quite a bit darker than the other. What would you recommend to get the one limb a little closer in color to the darker one. I was thinking some Rit Dye but would like your advise. Dean

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Title: Re: Darkening Osage Recommendations
Post by: Josh on June 10, 2010, 01:56:57 pm
It will darken on its own over time, but so will your dark limb, LOL.  UV rays cause osage to darken I would just leave it like it is... maybe it will even out eventually but i think it looks cool like that... More of a conversation piece.  :) 
Title: Re: Darkening Osage Recommendations
Post by: Parnell on June 10, 2010, 02:43:38 pm
If it were mine I'd leave it.  I think it'd look plenty good.  How about a picture of it strung?
Title: Re: Darkening Osage Recommendations
Post by: RidgeRunner on June 10, 2010, 03:08:06 pm
Sounds nutty but you can rub it down with clorox and put it out in the sun.   It will darken right up. 
It will also raise the grain.

David
Title: Re: Darkening Osage Recommendations
Post by: Dean Marlow on June 10, 2010, 03:11:51 pm
O.K. here are some pictures of it out in the sun.

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Title: Re: Darkening Osage Recommendations
Post by: Bevan R. on June 10, 2010, 04:01:19 pm
Nice looking bow. I would not mess with the colors. Let it darken naturally. I like it the way it is.
Title: Re: Darkening Osage Recommendations
Post by: Josh on June 10, 2010, 04:16:02 pm
give it a couple of months and it will be waaaaay less noticeable...  :)
Title: Re: Darkening Osage Recommendations
Post by: George Tsoukalas on June 10, 2010, 05:19:29 pm
That's a nice looking bow. I'd go natural too. Jawge
Title: Re: Darkening Osage Recommendations
Post by: Dean Marlow on June 10, 2010, 07:48:58 pm
We will leave it like it is. When I get it completely done I will show the end results.
Title: Re: Darkening Osage Recommendations
Post by: gmc on June 10, 2010, 08:19:42 pm
Dean its always a treat to see your work. Boiled lineseed oil in the sunlight will darken that limb (suntan with sun lotion). Very nice bow.
gmc
Title: Re: Darkening Osage Recommendations
Post by: Marc St Louis on June 10, 2010, 08:33:35 pm
Bleach will darken the wood as well
Title: Re: Darkening Osage Recommendations
Post by: Timo on June 10, 2010, 09:02:44 pm
Take the lighter colored limb and lay it in a sunny local during the day. Leave the dark one in the....dark. ;D It'll catch up perty quick,If you let them age together, the lighter limb will never catch the other one.
Title: Re: Darkening Osage Recommendations
Post by: aznboi3644 on June 10, 2010, 09:08:42 pm
beautiful contrast...I would keep the character.  I havent seen many two tone osage bows like that.
Title: Re: Darkening Osage Recommendations
Post by: ricktrojanowski on June 10, 2010, 10:27:44 pm
I've been told about the bleach method.  If it was mine I would leave it just like it is.  I like the different toned limbs.  It adds character.
Title: Re: Darkening Osage Recommendations
Post by: El Destructo on June 10, 2010, 11:02:28 pm
If you must darken it...you can always use Red Devil Lye...that will darken it almost immediately...I would leave her alone...and let Her age naturally myself...but the Lye will work...just wear Gloves...and make sure that You neutralise it afterwards too...
Title: Re: Darkening Osage Recommendations
Post by: FlintWalker on June 10, 2010, 11:47:33 pm
Cover up the dark limb and lay it in a tanning bed for a while ::)
Title: Re: Darkening Osage Recommendations
Post by: Jboyd on June 11, 2010, 01:28:41 am
Oven cleaner will darken it also, spray on leave it a minute and wipe off.
Title: Re: Darkening Osage Recommendations
Post by: El Destructo on June 11, 2010, 01:58:49 am
Oven cleaner will darken it also, spray on leave it a minute and wipe off.

Yep...thats the Lye in the Cleaner that does it...just like the Red devil Drain Cleaner does....
Title: Re: Darkening Osage Recommendations
Post by: Almostpighunter on June 11, 2010, 03:53:31 am
Man, that bow is nice! I was wondering if you got the pieces for the take down from a piping/hardware store or if they were from the "pre-packaged set" that I have seen for sale online? If it was the pre-packaged set, then how easy/difficult was it to work with? I have heard/read mixed reviews on it.
Title: Re: Darkening Osage Recommendations
Post by: Pappy on June 11, 2010, 06:40:36 am
I had the same thing on a takedown,I stained the light one,I did it with several coats ,I also stained the darker one with the same stain ,just real light,it turned out pretty good,I could tell but nobody else that didn't no couldn't. Nice looking bow. :) 
  Pappy
Title: Re: Darkening Osage Recommendations
Post by: Dean Marlow on June 11, 2010, 08:31:44 am
Almostpighunter this was an on line sleeve set. The main thing you want to do is make sure you have your billets squared up as much as you can on the ends where the sleeves will go. When you get the sleeve's the brass sleeve will be very tight. I used flat files and emery cloth on the brass fitting. You will be able to see where you need to file or sand on the brass fitting as it will leave a mark where it is still to tight. Dean
Title: Re: Darkening Osage Recommendations
Post by: wodpow on June 11, 2010, 06:55:45 pm
Osage will darken fast  in sunlight. I was chasing down a ring and had to leave and left the stave clamped in the vise after three hours in the noon sun it was already turning. Where the stave was clamped in was still yellow as well as the side turned from the suns rays. A dye might make a change you can't get evened out without even more dye. I have bows that I had to retiller drop the weight and had scraping mark of yellow on a brown aged surface that evened up after a couple years .