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!!!!!!!!!!
Is your kit in pieces or assembled? Pat
Are you sure the black walnut is the backing strip? That combo just doesn't sound right.
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.
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