I recently got a new Dwyer with a birds eye maple riser and quilted maple veners. I really wanted the quilted maple stained but Dave could not get it to take, so they are natural. I wanted the bow to turn out with contrasting light and dark woods, but this one came out all blond. Bow shoots great but I sure wish it would turn dark. Any chance of that happening? I know the oily woods like bocote have a tendancy to change color I just wasnt sure about maple. Thanks for the help!

Usually what changes maples white color is the finish that yellows or darkens that was applied over it. There will be some change regardless but maple can remain very white if a finish is used that wil remain clear.

Joshua

Like Joshua mentioned it probably won't change any. Oil based finishes will have an amber hue to them and can darken the wood some. Learn to love blonds!    

Wish my hair would darken with time.  

Nope.  Birds eye can be darkened with a dye instead of a stain.  Something like permengranate would probably do it, too.

Unfortunately,maple doesn't change much.I have owned some '50's Bear bows with maple in them and they were a shade darker than new but still very light.I have a recurve with very cool quilted maple limb veneers and it just hasn't changed in the few years I've owned it.Some spots I hunt,it would be a good color,other places I wouldn't use it because it would stand out too much.

I wish I had good news for you but I just don't think it will change much.Maple is a dense wood and not as easy to stain as some.I bet it is beautiful.

AS Jeff said... you need to use a dye.  I use acid and other chemical dyes when working with maple.

Leather dye.I have a bow of curly maple that I had the bowyer do a 2 part light and medium brown leather dye stain on it.Looks like a maple stock on a flintlock rifle.Very pleased.

Just use the stains from which the muzzleloading enthusiasts use on their rifles. This can be from blonde to almost black, depending on the desired finish. A killer combination is always Aqua Fortis...

Is there any way to go back and stain a bow after it has been sprayed?

Not unless ya take the finish off and get to bare wood.  The "dye" needs to penetrate... sorry...

Aqua Fortis is nitric acid with iron filings dissolved in the solution until the acid will no longer react with the metal. I usually dilute the acid with 2 parts distilled water before I begin dumping in iron filings--iron or soft steel only.  I like to use old used horse shoe nails and if you know a farrier he'll have a bucket he will gladly give you. Old barbed wire from an abandoned fence row is also great--only takes a few moments with a wire cutters to get it.   I make my own AF every so often as I make flintlocks for a hobby.  I've found it best to let the solution sit a month or so in a dark place after you make it--seems to work better.  Nitric acid is photosensitive.  Also, if you do this yourself do it OUTSIDE and use a container at least twice as large as you need to hold the acid as its going to bubble very vigorously at first.  Also--don't breath the fumes or you will die...you've been warned.

It must be brushed on the clean wood surface and allowed to air dry.  Then take a low heat source like a heat gun or a propane torch (not MAPP) and lightly heat the surface until the solution reacts with the wood turning it a darker color.  Most maples will turn anywhere from a light brown to a dark chestnut with AF and you may repeat the process for a darker color.  You then need to neutralize the wood with a little water and baking soda and when dry finish as usual.

Aqua Fortis will enhance the grain and pattern but unlike dues or stains it will not mottle the wood or make it look dull.  

Good stuff but not the easiest thing to use either.  I only use it because its a historically correct finish.  You can buy Nitric Acid by the pint (Bring your own glass container) at most any laboratory/chemical supply house which are commonly found in mid to large size cities.

You don't need to go thru the Aqua Fortis process to get great looking maple.Look on Zipper's web-site(above).Bill dose a wonderful job w/ maple using leather dyes.
It's a 2 step process.
1 stain w/ medium brown,left dry and sand to desired tone.Wipe down w/ clear vinegar
2 stain w/ light brown and repeat the process above and finish.
W

Can you post pictures of the bow? Probably would be perfect in a standing drying cornfield.

You will never get the 3-dimensional looks/depth perception of Aqua Fortis with a dye. Good stuff takes its time and efforts.
The Laurel Mountain Maple Stains are good, but will not be comparable to AF.
I mean this looks ok:
http://www.zipperbows.com/images/bows/stock_bows/zebraebonysxt.jpg

But this is much,much better:
http://www.mohr-vorderlader.de/jager-buchse.htm

Tecum,you know that not a good comparison.Your looking at wood under glass w/ the Zipper.Plus there is ALOT of difference in the grade maple w/ the Jager flintlock.Would love to send you a photo of the bow I have that has just as much depth in figure as the Jager rifle.