Wood stain?

[Flashover]

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!!!!!!!!!!

[Pat B]

Is your kit in pieces or assembled?  Pat

[Dano]

Are you sure the black walnut is the backing strip? That combo just doesn't sound right.

[Flashover]

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.

[rainman]

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