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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: KentuckyTJ on March 24, 2011, 11:01:00 AM

Title: Bow Woods Getting Dark!
Post by: KentuckyTJ on March 24, 2011, 11:01:00 AM
I was noticing the other day how dark my Tall Tines bow has gotten over the last 7 months. I got this bow in August I believe and the picts in the mulch are from last night. I don't believe all woods darken over time or do they? Or is it that some darken more than others? Post your new to now photos if you have any and maybe we can come to some conclusions.

Here it is brand new

       (http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/kyTJ/Bows/PB130732-1000.jpg)

       (http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/kyTJ/Bows/PB130733-1000.jpg)

6 months later

       (http://i52.tinypic.com/200xrih.jpg)

     (http://i54.tinypic.com/2hxoetw.jpg)

       (http://i54.tinypic.com/98d7hh.jpg)

       (http://i56.tinypic.com/1zzqcrk.jpg)

   (http://i51.tinypic.com/2cnct8g.jpg)
Title: Re: Bow Woods Getting Dark!
Post by: steadman on March 24, 2011, 11:03:00 AM
Looks darker to me. I like it better dark!
Title: Re: Bow Woods Getting Dark!
Post by: GRINCH on March 24, 2011, 11:04:00 AM
It's definately darker,amazing what a little sun will do.
Title: Re: Bow Woods Getting Dark!
Post by: awbowman on March 24, 2011, 11:07:00 AM
If you don't want it, I'll take it! hahahahahaha


Dang that's a purty bow!  What is it and what are the specs.
Title: Re: Bow Woods Getting Dark!
Post by: TWarrows on March 24, 2011, 11:23:00 AM
I say send it to me and I will see if I can lighten it up over the next six months....LOL.... bow looks great dark..
Title: Re: Bow Woods Getting Dark!
Post by: KentuckyTJ on March 24, 2011, 11:32:00 AM
HaHa, thanks for the help guys. I actually like it darker myself as well. When I get tired of it I'll let you know.

Really though the Bocote has gotten much darker. I know Osage gets darker also. Is it just light woods that darken?
Title: Re: Bow Woods Getting Dark!
Post by: steadman on March 24, 2011, 11:50:00 AM
I don't think so. I've had some darker woods darken over the years. But that is just observation. It looks like the first bow was just getting done being sanded and the last pic has finish on it.
Title: Re: Bow Woods Getting Dark!
Post by: wv lungbuster on March 24, 2011, 11:55:00 AM
It sure does look darker. Is that a Tall Tines TJ?
Title: Re: Bow Woods Getting Dark!
Post by: KentuckyTJ on March 24, 2011, 11:58:00 AM
It is Jason.
Title: Re: Bow Woods Getting Dark!
Post by: BWD on March 24, 2011, 11:58:00 AM
It can be the wood, or the finish, or sometimes both.
Title: Re: Bow Woods Getting Dark!
Post by: KentuckyTJ on March 24, 2011, 12:01:00 PM
Interesting Barry, do some finishes have UV protection in them and some do not?
Title: Re: Bow Woods Getting Dark!
Post by: Gray Buffalo on March 24, 2011, 12:01:00 PM
The back drop on a picture will make a difference. Depends on how much light it has absorbed  causing the subject look brighter or darker JMHO
Title: Re: Bow Woods Getting Dark!
Post by: KentuckyTJ on March 24, 2011, 12:09:00 PM
Jerry from my college photography classes I agree sometimes that has an affect but not here. The backgrounds are both neutral. That usually happens with widely varied backgrounds. A bigger factor can be lighting source and intensity though. This bow is noticeably darker, especially the Bocote. Look at the limb butt wedges from new to now.

Also I actually just the other day replaced the stock side shelf rest material and it is now much smaller. If you look you can see in the today picts the little light spot in the Bocote stripe over the new material. It is a drastic difference in 7 months time. I'll get a closeup photo and post it.
Title: Re: Bow Woods Getting Dark!
Post by: Passthru on March 24, 2011, 12:14:00 PM
I have an all Bocote recurve that got really dark over the last 4 years.  It doesn't even look like the same bow.  It went from tan to chocolate brown.  It happened so gradually I didn't even notice until I replaced the shelf plate.  I looked back at the pics I took when I received it and was amazed at the change.  The whole bow used to look like the light wood under the shelf material.

Had I known it would do that, I think I would have stored it in a case.
Title: Re: Bow Woods Getting Dark!
Post by: KentuckyTJ on March 24, 2011, 01:42:00 PM
QuoteOriginally posted by BWD:
It can be the wood, or the finish, or sometimes both.
Anyone know about UV inhibitors in bow finishes? Do any come with that?
Title: Re: Bow Woods Getting Dark!
Post by: Jeremy on March 24, 2011, 01:57:00 PM
Many woods darken with exposure to sun and oxygen.  I have some pieces of bocote and cocobolo in the shop that are nearly black on the surface  :)

There are some woods that get lighter with exposure.  Black Walnut comes to mind and I believe is probably the most extreme.  I think Wenge as well.  Paduak loses its red.
Title: Re: Bow Woods Getting Dark!
Post by: WildmanSC on March 24, 2011, 02:05:00 PM
QuoteOriginally posted by Jeremy:
Many woods darken with exposure to sun and oxygen.  I have some pieces of bocote and cocobolo in the shop that are nearly black on the surface   :)  

There are some woods that get lighter with exposure.  Black Walnut comes to mind and I believe is probably the most extreme.  I think Wenge as well.  Paduak loses its red.
Paduak will turn the color of some of the darker phases of Cocobolo.  I like it dark!

Bill
Title: Re: Bow Woods Getting Dark!
Post by: kat on March 24, 2011, 02:55:00 PM
Sunlight will darken some woods more than others but no wood darkens more than osage IMO
Title: Re: Bow Woods Getting Dark!
Post by: EL Mejor on March 24, 2011, 03:13:00 PM
DARKER THATS FOR,BUT LIKE EVERY ONE ELSE SAYS,AND LOOKS GOOD,ENJOY,,,
Title: Re: Bow Woods Getting Dark!
Post by: on March 24, 2011, 03:14:00 PM
I have a yew with male yew, it was quite reddish to begin with, but has turned much darker since I finished it several years ago.  My son has a yew that is female yew and over the last 15 years has gotten nearly as dark as my male yew, but more of a rust/orange color.
Title: Re: Bow Woods Getting Dark!
Post by: LoweBow on March 24, 2011, 03:25:00 PM
Many woods get darker over time...unlike your hair color.  Maybe once your head is all gray it'll start to darken like your TT riser...  :bigsmyl:
Title: Re: Bow Woods Getting Dark!
Post by: KentuckyTJ on March 24, 2011, 03:25:00 PM
Mike, I need to find a new Best Bud. Taking application starting tomorrow.
Title: Re: Bow Woods Getting Dark!
Post by: Steve O on March 24, 2011, 04:00:00 PM
THAT  was funny LoweBow    :laughing:

Many, many woods darken with age.  Cocobolo is nutorious.  I have had some that started canary yellow and orange that is now a deep dark red.

Those exquisite Snakewood bows are going to be pretty plain jane years down the road...
Title: Re: Bow Woods Getting Dark!
Post by: KentuckyTJ on March 24, 2011, 04:12:00 PM
That's not funny Steve. What's funny is Mike is 6'-4" and wears a size 8.5 shoe. He claims "It's a Myth" but when asked to prove it he always stares at the ground and kicks the gravel.
Title: Re: Bow Woods Getting Dark!
Post by: Steve O on March 24, 2011, 04:17:00 PM
Nope, I don't think I could cut it in that circle...you guys must be close as brothers    :campfire:
Title: Re: Bow Woods Getting Dark!
Post by: Bowwild on March 24, 2011, 05:14:00 PM
I can tell the darkening of the bocote stripe but that's all.  I have some bocote limbs, especially on one bow that I hope do darken over time. For sure I had a High Sierra that had an osage limb face that darkened over time.
Title: Re: Bow Woods Getting Dark!
Post by: KentuckyTJ on March 24, 2011, 06:04:00 PM
Here is a closeup of the Bocote stripe that was under the old larger shelf material. As I say I changed this just the other day.

(http://i54.tinypic.com/2ueraxh.jpg)
Title: Re: Bow Woods Getting Dark!
Post by: ishoot4thrills on March 24, 2011, 06:17:00 PM
Still, that's a fine looking bow Tom. I'm like you though, at least when it comes to osage. I love that bright yellow wood when it's freshly cut. I like it much better than the dark orange that it takes on with age.
Title: Re: Bow Woods Getting Dark!
Post by: ishoot4thrills on March 25, 2011, 06:15:00 PM
Before:

(http://i547.photobucket.com/albums/hh472/ishoot4thrills/PredatorCustomClassic016.jpg)

After awhile:

(http://i547.photobucket.com/albums/hh472/ishoot4thrills/BowPicsatTommysFarm014.jpg)
Title: Re: Bow Woods Getting Dark!
Post by: KentuckyTJ on March 25, 2011, 06:42:00 PM
Yeah big difference Doug. The grey action or dymondwood whatever it is doesn't seem to be as affected. Thanks for posting?
Title: Re: Bow Woods Getting Dark!
Post by: papawoody on March 25, 2011, 06:43:00 PM
Changed the grip on my Big River tulip wood long bow and the bow is lighter in color then under the rest.
Title: Re: Bow Woods Getting Dark!
Post by: Jim Wright on March 26, 2011, 10:24:00 AM
It is well known that Osage darkens greatly with exposure over time and I can assure you from my own experience with a couple of bows with Yew veneers that it darkens notceably and beautifully. The same has occured with a Honduran Rosewood risered t.d. recurve I have , it must occur somewhat commonly.
Title: Re: Bow Woods Getting Dark!
Post by: Bigriver on March 26, 2011, 11:33:00 AM
Some woods darken with age, some fade. Bacote , osage, cherry, all get darker. Some finishes have uv protection, typically exterior varnishes. Problem is they tend to yellow/amber over time. Typically interior catalyzed finishes dont yellow as much, but if light gets through, they  will change over time. The finish is clear after all. We deal with this all the time in our wood finishing on homes.

You want the wood to stay the same over time, paint it black  :bigsmyl: