What suggestions as far as finishs for my first  osage bow.  I would like to keep the light natural color but want to protect the wood.  I know it will darken with time.

Tru oil

If you want to keep it light, pick something with big UV protection.

I find wipe on poly easy to apply and as effective as anything.  

An outdoor spar w/ big UV might be better, but spar tends to darken on it's own.

For best protection, use lots of thin coats, light sand in between and then after it's cured a couple weeks follow up with a heavy wax.

For my personal bows I use epoxy-acetone (1 part two ton epoxy, 5 parts acetone) wiped on with a small piece of rag. This is the toughest finish out there. It takes 6 or 8 applications to get good coverage.

After I letter a bow I put 3 or 4 coats of tru oil over the lettering to keep it in place. The acetone in EA will wipe off the lettering.

I use tru-oil on most of bows I make followed with a misting of satin spar urethane to give them a dull finish.

Thanks for the help

A urethane with UV inhibitors will slow the darkening process, but exposure to light will eventually darken osage.

more thoughts of mine on finishes:  http://analogperiphery.blogspot.com/2009/02/selfbow-finishes.html

TRU OIL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!