Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Eric Krewson on September 29, 2017, 07:44:11 am
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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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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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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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I have been using minwax penetrating wood stain, holds up well
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Eric, have you tried aniline(sp) dye like Dean used?
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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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Leather dye is anyline dye.
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Are you removing the rind or at least fine sanding it? Just eliminating possible problems. ;)
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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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What is the shortest bbo you made that pulls 28 and has good cast?
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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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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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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