got a question

[eman614]

can an old wood bow be rehydrated? if so what is the best way to go about it?

[Pat B]

You can re-educate one to bend an recover but your local relative humidity controls the hydration.

[Sam Harper]

I've never tried it, but if I were to try it, I'd probably sand all the finish of and put it in the bathroom with a humidifier for a week, then put a finish on it.  I don't know if that would work or not.

[eman614]

so how does one go about re-educating a bow? if i am backing it will that suffice?

[skeaterbait]

Don't consider me an authority on this as I have never done it, and please don't take this as sarcasm... SLOWLY!!!

I would think even more care would be needed for this than in the actual building process.

Not sure on the backing.

[Bowjunkie]

You dont need to back an old bow 'just because'. What I have done with success is to put them on the tillering tree, unstrung, and get the limbs bending with the long string, exercising it 40-50 times at each inch increment, and only go to the next inch if tiller looks good. Once it's gone far enough that it can be braced, put the proper length string on it. Continue exercising limbs 40-50 times at each increment, giving it thorough inspections every so often, and continue until full draw. If it holds up and all seems well, go shoot it.