Osage bows

[BowHuntingFool]

Well, Osage is starting to grow on me.....     My understanding is that it darkens with age. Does anybody have pics of just how it looks.... kinda like a before and after type pics. In before I mean New and what it looks like today, how dark it is, the difference!

also how long is the darkening process??

Thanks!

[Bjorn]

These risers are about a year apart in age. Maybe 6 mos and 18 mos old.
 
That was 2-3 years ago.........the lighter one is now like the dark one in the pic and the dark one is a bit darker; but not as much difference.

[fatman]

http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=060076#000000

[Wannabe1]

Osage is my most favorite wood. Here's my Morrison Osage riser now. Don't have a photo when it was new as I got it from another TGer.
 

[Pete Arthur]

I was just looking at my 10 year old Osage self bow last night and thinking how beautiful it's gotten over the years. It started out as a light gold color, and now it's a real mellow burnt Orange color. Sorry I don't have access to before and after pics, but it's true what they say about aged Osage!

[John Scifres]

As usual with organic materials, it depends.  Some osage can be banana yellow at first.  Within a few days unfinished, it'll be much less bright.  But, a finished bow, with a good plastic finish will stay yellow for years if it is kept out of the sunlight.  If you want the darker color sooner, leave it unfinished and in the sunlight for a few weeks.  If it is already finished, it'll take longer but leave it in the sun and it'll get a tan pretty quick anyway.  

The darkening is an oxidation reaction so a wash down with sodium hydroxide (lye) before finishing will get the color right away.  I like to watch them get darker over time.  Really old osage can be almost black, or purplish.