Sealing Hickory?

[Barry Winner]

Hello all, I read here daily, but do not post much at all.  I want to get into building self bows and composite bows and have a question about hickory and hickory backing.  Recently there have been several comments about hickory bows and humidity.  Such as not to shoot a hickory bow in Summer.  I can't imagine not shooting my bow year round!  Is there a way to seal a hickory self bow or hickory backed osage bow so humidity is not a problem?  Thanks for any insight

[Pat B]

There is no way to seal any bow wood against humidity. Hickory is very hygroscopic, meaning it takes on and releases moisture to the atmosphere as the humidity changes. Seal your hickory selfbows and backed bows just like you normally do. If your home is air conditioned it will reduce the moisture in your home and help to keep your hickory dry and it takes a few days of high humidity to affect the M/C of your bows anyway.
  If you have a hot box keep your bows in there between 90deg and 100deg with a small fan in it. That will help to dry bows while not in use.

[Art B]

I think hickory just needs more seasoning time than most whitewoods to be less sensitive to moisture intake. But being well sealed and learning how to care for this wood or any other type is very important too. So once you learn the ends and outs of these wood bows there're relatively easily and simple to care for........Art

[Fritz]

I have been hunting and shooting with my latest hickory here in SW Louisiana for 5 or 6 months now with no noticable lost of cast. Our humidity stays crazy high here. I do have central air so I store it inside when not in use. I have it sealed well, but I think it would take prolonged exposure for a seasoned/sealed hickory bow to take on significant moisture to affect cast.

[Barry Winner]

Thanks all.  I'm just getting into this addiction and have a lot to learn!