HBO stain / finish question

[jimmyZ]

Finishing up a Hickory Backed Osage bow with a black locsut handle. My question is what type of stain (oil or water based) and finish would be best to use on this HBO? I believe the hickory and black locust takes staining differently then the osage. Curious to what would work best for both. Any color suggestions would be great as well. I was thinking of a reddish or darker color for the hickory & black locust and leave the osage natural cause it will darken with age.

Thanks,
jimmyZ

[Pat B]

I like to let osage darken naturally. Hickory backings works well with most dyes. Fiebings leather dye or Rit dyr in alcohol both work well. I prefer more of a wash than a stain on hickory to show off the grain. By adding extra alcohol to either Rit or Fiebings you can "water" it down into a wash.  Another stain I like for hickory is hand rubbed finely ground charcoal. You can do it dry ow with the alcohol or oil. Just rub it in and wipe it off.
  I use Tru-Oil on all my bows as a finish.

[jimmyZ]

Thanks for the information. I am assuming you would use denatured alcohol with the Rit dyes. I will have to experiment to get a color I am looking for. Done that with stains for other wood projects. Have not used Tru-Oil, but got some scraps to work with first.

jimmyZ

[Bradford]

Well, here is what minwax stain looks like.  Not that happy with it.  I took a lot of time sanding and preping, but still did not come out even..

 

It's not bad.. but I like Pat's idea of a dry rub... you can go to an art store and get colored charcoal.. will try that next time!

This was a water based stain from Home Depot.  

I use Toungue Oil.. I have also used rub on poly.. like the Toungue better.  Rubs in real deep into the wood.. takes a little bit of time, but worth it.