???? RISER-- Bubinga and Osage

[Mad Max]

Does bubinga and osage look good for a Riser?

Do I need to do anything to bubinga (remove oil? ect.) before smooth on glue up?
Thanks    pictures would help

[Brock]

Bubinga looks good with osage initially but when osage turns that honey-coffee chocolate brown color from UV exposure it will be darker than your Bubinga.  I am told you can get UV protectant for the wood but never seen it used myself...

Bubinga can also sometimes have silica present which affects saw blades...the dust is an irritant to your skin...and it does have higher oil content in wood that can be problematic for gluing for some people.

Never worked with it myself...but have a bow or two with bubinga in it...but the contrast with osage will be nullified in a few years as it ages if that is what you looking for.  If you call one of the bowyers that does a lot of exotic woods on here...they should be able to answer all your questions and give recommendations on prep as well.

[Troy D. Breeding]

I have combined them and as stated it looks great to start with, but over time the osage changes.

[Crooked Stic]

If you wanted it to stay yellow you could use yellowheart instead.

[Mad Max]

Good points, Thanks guy's
I don't think you can stop osage from turning darker no mater what you put on it.
TROY If I sand the bubinga right before glue up, will that work?

I have hard maple and bocote

[Trux Turning]

I've had good luck working with bubinga- just sand, brush or blow off the sanding dust and glue up. It really comes to life once you get some finish on it.

[bamboo]

all the bubinga I've used was not oily at all-in fact I consider it one of the better riser woods
osage and bubinga looks great together--the one I did changed very slowly and mellowed nicely--20 yrs from now-who knows?[or really cares]
look at all the purple heart and rosewood from the 60's--looks great and it can always be refinished!

[Troy D. Breeding]

Never had a problem gluing up bubinga. Like Trux said sand, brush or blow off and glue.