Great Job!

beautiful bow. I really like the stain job... what did you use?

QuoteOriginally posted by Echatham:
beautiful bow. I really like the stain job... what did you use?

It was a leather dye I got from Kanati Quiver John. The color was chocolate.

I would be real interested to know how you put it on and what you finished with. I used a leather dye on a BBI recently and had some compatibility and application issues. sorry don't mean to change the topic of your thread. Nice shot on that bird... and i really really like your bow!

The bows ok, I guess...  

QuoteOriginally posted by Echatham:
I would be real interested to know how you put it on and what you finished with. I used a leather dye on a BBI recently and had some compatibility and application issues. sorry don't mean to change the topic of your thread. Nice shot on that bird... and i really really like your bow!

I sanded the rine off the boo as best I could without getting too invasive. Then I cleaned it up and put the dye on with a rag and wiped it until I had everything covered. Then I put my heat gun to it for a few minutes to warm it up so it would dry faster. Then I put about 5 coats of Spar Urethane on it over the next week. But I must warn you, I am a complete Newby to bow building, so I'm 100% positive that there are better methods. That is just what I did, with what I had here at the shop.    It turned out really cool looking. It was pleasant surprise really.

well it looks good. i used tandy leather dye on just the  bamboo on mine... masked off the wood.... then, because it was Ipe... and oily.... i sealed the whole bow with shellac prior to finishing with tru-oil.  the shellac pulled the dye right off the bamboo... it started beading up and running. so... leather dye not compatible with shellac.... i know that much! I still managed to make it pretty... but i won't try that again.

Here is what you want girls:)

And I'm pretty sure I told both two of yunzs this a long time ago:)

 http://woodworker.com/alcohol-soluble-brt-yellow-golden-oak-aniline-dye-mssu-845-541.asp

Don't listen to the mixing directions. I mix a little bit of powder, maybe 1/4 teaspoon, in a small 4 ounce container like a baby food jar or in my case an empty old fart pill bottle. It lasts forever, you can always add more powder to make it darker, BUT a little bit goes a long long way. If you mix it too dark, add more alcohol. If you need to touch up a spot, this stuff blends right in and you can't tell you even patched up a spot. It dries right in front of your eyes like in 15 seconds.  I bought 1 ounce containers 6 years ago and still have powder left. 4 ounces will stain 10 to 15 bows. I let it dry maybe 5 minutes and buff with a dry soft rag. The more coats you apply, the darker it gets naturally. If it's too dark, buff the bow with 0000 steel wool and it lightens right up. If you hit a sharper edge on the bow, you will take it down to bare wood, but you just hit it with a little more stain and your good to go. One tip, when you start to stain, start at the center of the handle and make one non stop continues stroke to the tip, if you stop and start again you will see a line where you stopped and started. BUT just swipe over it again and the line goes away.

Hey thanks Roy thats good stuff! don't think you told me about it before though.

Well if I didn't, I did now:)

Cool! Looks like that bullhead is wicked on birds! Nice bow!

I just hate when my head gets chopped off by an arrow ...

me too... that will just ruin your afternoon every time!

Take that you big black chicken...congrats. What a shot!

That is Killer.  Congrats!!

That is killer.  Congratulations!!  I shot a long beard with a 2 blade zwickey last year and never found him.  I looked for days but all I found was a broken bamboo arrow with feather stuck in it.  Made me sick.  You did good though.