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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: Flashover on September 12, 2008, 10:20:00 AM
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I am very new to this. I order a long bow kit from Rudders Bows and am just thinking about how I want it to turn out. I was wondering if it is possible to stain the wood before a glue up. I like the looks of the darker woods but obiously with my first bow im not spending the money on the exotics. The kit came with a Hickory core, black walnut backing strip, maple backing strip and a black walnut riser block. I would like to darken the hickory and maple but am affraid the glue wont stick or there may be other problems if i were to stain the wood first. I am going to be asking lots of questions as I go, I hope that is ok. Also does anyone know of any bowyers in Michigan that are willing to teach?
Thanks!!!!!!!!!!
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Is your kit in pieces or assembled? Pat
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Are you sure the black walnut is the backing strip? That combo just doesn't sound right.
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it is in pieces and the way it was decribed led me to believe that the black walnut was supposed to be sandwiched between the maple backing strip and the hickory belly/riser section. All are cut to 72" and 1 1/2" wide. The riser section tapers from 5/8" from just above and bellow the handle and tapers to 3/8" at the tips. The backing strips are both about 1/8" to 1/4" the full length. These seem to be awful thick.
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As long as you use an alcohol or water based stain you have no worries with the glue sticking once the stain is dry. Iwouldn,t stain anything until I am ready to finish the bow. If you stain before glueup you will be cutting away wood you stained and have to restain those parts of the bow.
Dan