I have been meaning to ask this question for a while, but have not had the time. I am still on hodiday so now is a good time to ponder such weighty issues!#$%?!
Why do so many of you hang your bows on display on bow-racks? I would like to do the same but you may not realise what is happening to your bows.
Nobody is stupid enough to hang a bow in direct sunlight, but even a bow hanging in a lighted room will be affected by the UV.
I would like to think it is a Southern Hemisphere thing - the sun being stronger down in Australia - but me thinks not!!
About 18 months ago I received a bow from Mark Hornes - it was one of his stock bows and he said it had been on dispaly for a few months. Where the limbs touched the riser (where daylight was unable to enter), the Osage was a beautiful bright orange/yellow. The Purpleheart was a very bright clear punchy purple.
However - in that short time - the rest of the bow looked quite different. The Osage had gone a muddy mustard colour and the Purpleheart was really dark and had lots its punchy contrast.
I am sure Mark did not have it hanging in direct sunlight - so there is an example of how quickly your bows will change colour.
I grimace when I read the enthusiasm of new bow owners showing pic's of their gorgeous new purchase, the shiny new colours of freshly hewn timber leaping from the screen - then they go and stick it on a bow rack!#$%!%%^
They probably don't realise in a few years time they will be holding a dark homologous blob - a sad effigy of their once beautiful creation.
Except when I am shooting my bows - they are always stored in their sock, wrapped in a thick blanket and stored in a dark cool place. All of my bows still exhibit the same gorgeous hues as they did when new.
I am interersted to read other folk's observations. Is this a valid point or do I have too much time on my hands!#$^???
Sutto
Sutto, not sure of all the other woods, but I know Osage turns darker with time. I had a Widow with Osage limbs that was bright, bright yellow when I got it and in only two weeks or so it had started to get darker. I personally like the looks of it better when it turns that nice honey brown. BTW, I store my longbows in socks and in a hard case that goes under my bed...Mike
Most bow woods will darken a little over time, but you just happened to pick two woods that darken a lot, and they do it fairly quickly. You can expect your purpleheart to turn a purply black, and the osage will go to brown. A little more subdued, but still a nice look, don't you think.
Yep Osage will darken with time.
Thanks suttoman!! You have been a big help. :bigsmyl:
Suttoman...to answer your question...Yes you have too much time on your hands.
The changing of the color, especially Osage and heartpine, is one of the main reasons for having it. You must have been in your closet with your bows.
I love the 'aged' look' and some 'use' marks add character.
yep.I have an osage flatbow that is older,and it's as dark as can be. Looks good,and it's the natural aging of osage.
Any of ya'all got a newer Black Widow with Osage knows huh??? Risers turn real dark,but the limbs do not match.Usely the limbs are much lighter in color do to the fact the clear fiberglass on the limbs is blocking the UV's from getting to the Osage in the limb laminations.However most bowyers do not use a finish that contains a UV blocker...UV blocker clear finishes are a little more expensive and harder to work with too.But will prevent discolorastion of any wooods..bowdoc
Speaking for myself, I beleive that as is the case with good dogs, "good" bows have earned the right to hang out with the rest of the family in the great room or den. Surely my mounts would hold up better wrapped in a blanket and stored in a dark closet too, but it my view, they have also earned the right to "hang out" in the great room where they are frequently and deservedly honored.
Life's for living! If your favorite bow "goes dark" on you, just buy another bow...
I like the "honey" color of older osage so much whenever I use it in a bow I'll put it back in my oven with one light bulb on. After a day or two it will look quite a bit more aged. Then I'll go ahead and spray it and finish it out.
Like said earlier...some woods change a lot fast when exposed to light.
Although most don't darken that fast....and, most get a richer look to me...and are more beautiful.
I like em on my bow rack so's I can view them, and other's can see them as well.
Not pressed about it. I keep my bows on the rack, always have, and some of them are 40+ years old. They are tools to help me fill the freezer and feed my family. Doesn't mean I'll be pole vaulting creeks with them but I don't baby them either. Beside's, the boys like showing off our bows to their friends, whenever they get the chance.
JL
I actually look forward to my new bows"aging" if you will. Love the old Osage and yew look. Curious to see how the new juniper will age.
I love the look of seasoned Osage a nice caramel/honey hue to it. I have a couple of Osage Longbows that are approaching 15 years old and I think of them as a fine wine just gettin' better with age.
I think new osage is not appealing. In contrast the older it is the better it looks! That deep honey color sure is sweet.
suttoman, that is good food for thought. However, my newest recurve or longbow is 33 years old. I would imagine if the woods were gonna "turn" they'd have done it by now.
They are part of who I am, and getting do go down to the "man cave" and just grab one off the rack for a moment or two keeps me sane.
One thing that I do though is turn them every month to show another side, or move them to a different rack. I'm pretty much with JL on this one, and a famous quote from a movie comes to mind, "nobody puts Baby in a corner".
Just my .02
I love old osage...and love my racks to diplay my bows...Mine look just fine... :)
Another vote for the thought of getting better with age. I like aged osage better than new, and other woods as well. The colors might not be quite as bright, but I think they take on a more refined look with age.
My wife looks different than she did when she was young, but I still like the way she looks and don't keep her in the closet :bigsmyl:
I presently keep my bows in their socks in my basement.I have awoodburner that keeps it about 80plus down there is that bad?
JIMBOB91, I would think if its very dry in your basement that it might dry them out quite a bit after awhile unless you use a humidifier.
And another vote for "aged" osage :thumbsup: . I used to intentionally put mine in the sun light for that reason.
I also put my osage recurve in the sun (unstrung) to "tan" for a week or more. but any thing such as felt on the limb tips or a strap on quiver will sure leave "tan lines" But its stays on a rack in my huntin room or "man cave" as noted above.
Indiana,do you mean abow can get too dried out?
Some woods will darken just because they are exposed to oxygen. An osage bow will darken even if it is kept away from light. My collection of Native American flutes which are made from various woods (cedar, osage, spruce, Alaskan cedar, hickory, ect.) have all darkened with exposure to the air alone.
Wood just does that, even if it is under glass. I have an all osage longbow with glass back and belly that has been in a bow sock and in a box for years. It was so bright when it was new that it was blinding. Now it is a deep honey color and a real beauty.
Wow, if I had to worry about bows getting a bit of aged looks with time, I'd have grey hair by now :banghead: :banghead: ,...I like looking at beautifull bows, so I don't wrap them up either.
(http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg218/doctari_album/IMG_0452.jpg)
Suttoman, Some bow's are just to beautiful to the eye to put in a sock. My bows are on my homemade cedar rack. When I am not shooting them. I like to look at them, Great eye candy!
My spends alot of time in my hand during the daylight. No need for artificial tanning sessions!
Yep- to much time on your hands! I use a bow rack to keep mine safe. Dogs can't chew them, no feet walking on them. Beautiful to look at, sometimes in a sock.(cause I dont want to dust them!). Biff
I'm not hiding my hunting partners in a closet.
Hey, Sutto! I hear Kiwis living in Kalgoorlie go dark in the sun too! Happy new year to you, and I hope you can grass some of those stinkers over your way. Cheers, Ben
Is it bad for my bows to be in my basement with a woodburner that keeps it between 80 and 90 deg?
My bows like hangin' around where they can see what's going on :smileystooges: . I too like the darker osage look. Bows kept in dark places? it just ain't right :knothead: .
David
Hey guys - great responses and I had to have a chuckle. Looks like I had better break the bows out and whack them on the wall.
I seem to be the only one concerned about timber darkening - that must be the perfectionist coming out again.
Thanks for taking the time to reply.
Does anybody have any thoughts on the bows being stored in a heated room??? I would think if it is a constant heat - and not too excessive - that it should be ok.
However it depends on where 'Jimbob' lives and what the ambient humidity level is outside (when he takes the bows outside to go shooting). I am in the desert in Western Australia so it would be fine here. We have very low humidity all year round. I don't know anything about weather patterns in Ohio!#$%&&!
Ben - great to hear from you mate and thanks for the happy 08 - same to you. I have a hunt planned for April near Bourke. Plan on getting amongst some big feral swine. I want to try out the new Bob Lee. Will keep you posted.
Sutto
Mate, if the Territory won't wreck 'em, nothing will!
I hope you clean-up on the piggy-wiggies!
Way too much time on your hands :knothead: