need some more advice

[Groundpounder]

ok Ive been emailing back and forth with Raineman , hes working on a string for me and so far an awesome guy to deal with hes been fast and helpful cant wait to get the string. since this bow has been sitting for years is there anything else to do other than string it and slowly work it. I thought i had read somewhere once to rub it down with boiled linseed oil . is there any benefits of this or could it cause more harm than good.just trying to take any precautions to insure the bow dosent break.as always thanks in advance for any help.

[allanburden]

I don't know anything about the boiled linseed oil, but if it was me, after inspecting the bow and ensuring there are no physical defects that would endanger the bow I would work slowly up to full draw.  Just beginning by drawing a few inches a time and increasing by an inch or two after repeated draws.  I pulled my dad's old Bear Kodiak Hunter that had not been strung since 1981 out of his closet and that's what I did with it.  No problems what-so-ever and the bow is a pleasure to shoot.  Good luck.      

[JRY309]

Is this an all wood bow or a laminated bow? I would just inspect it for any problems and then do like allan said,go slow.If it is an all wood bow I'm not sure about the boiled linseed oil,maybe if it was a one piece selfbow.A laminated bow should be fine as long as there is no damage.

[Groundpounder]

it is an old ben pearson bow it is definately all wood to the best of my knowledge it is hickory.

[john fletch]

A boiled linseed or Tung oil that is non harding is good for all wood bows.  If I get a bow that has just been sitting around a long while, I oil it and use a 'test' string that I tie on only about 2" shorter than the nock to nock lehngth.  I then work it out slowly, gradually pulling farther every few pulls.  If I can get it worked out to full draw without creaking or cracking, I will try try a proper size string.  I make a lot of 'universal' strings that are single loop.  You use the bowyers knot or timber hitch at the lower limb to set your string height.

If the bow will work out at full string height, you should be all right.  Remember that an all wood bow will not like the shock of going out in the cold, so limber it up slowly after stringing outside on a cold day.  Old dry hickory is prone to 'blowing up' in cold weather.  I pretty much stick to osage anymore if the weather is cold.  I have some hickory and other wood bows that are great 'fair weather friends'