Bow Woods Getting Dark!

[KentuckyTJ]

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

       

       

6 months later

       

     

       

       

   

[steadman]

Looks darker to me. I like it better dark!

[GRINCH]

It's definately darker,amazing what a little sun will do.

[awbowman]

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.

[TWarrows]

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..

[KentuckyTJ]

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?

[steadman]

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.

[wv lungbuster]

It sure does look darker. Is that a Tall Tines TJ?

[KentuckyTJ]

It is Jason.

[BWD]

It can be the wood, or the finish, or sometimes both.

[KentuckyTJ]

Interesting Barry, do some finishes have UV protection in them and some do not?

[Gray Buffalo]

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

[KentuckyTJ]

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.

[Passthru]

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.

[KentuckyTJ]

Originally 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?

[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.

[WildmanSC]

Originally 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

[kat]

Sunlight will darken some woods more than others but no wood darkens more than osage IMO

[EL Mejor]

DARKER THATS FOR,BUT LIKE EVERY ONE ELSE SAYS,AND LOOKS GOOD,ENJOY,,,

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.