Do you seal your forms?

[T Folts]

I'm build two new forms and wonder if I should seal them to help control moisture shift from heating and cooling. My first form developed a slight warp. If you do seal them what works best?
Thanks
Terry

[Hatrick]

I coat mine with 3-4 coats of gloss polyurethane. Don't know if it makes a difference but I've never had an issue with warping. I've also been known to wax them on occasion with Johnson's paste wax. Again, don't know if it really helps but no issues either.

[hunting badger]

I, always seal my forms with Polyurethane, in fact I just finished a new form yesterday and sealed it with poly, It really does help with moisture, especially during storage and time in the oven.

[Walt Francis]

I use paste wax and add angle iron along the entire length of both the top and bottom of the form.  I've only been doing the glass bows for six years but haven't had one warp yet.

[T Folts]

Well I took off all the hardware last night and put on a coat of urthane, I will put another tonite after work and that shoud be good. Thanks
for the replys.

[Crooked Stic]

About three coats of cheap spray paint will work also.

[BigJim]

I guess it must depend on your environment. I use LVL beams (laminated plywood main beams for construction) to make my forms and have since the beginning. I have sealed one, but that is all. Probably have no less then 200 bows built on each of the 4 forms I'm currently using for longbows.

I have never had a lower form failure or warpage although I have broke the upper portion a couple of times (I make the tops as narrow as possible to reduce weight).
For several years iv'e been building out of an AC'd shop (reduces moisture level in shop) and this is very very helpful in reducing cracking and warping of all woods.
However, I never had form problems even when I built in an old horse barn with 95% percent humidity most all the time.
BIgJIm