Keeping Osage yellow?

[Red Boar]

I am a big fan of Osage in its yellow state.  I am much less impressed when it ages to a brownish color.  Can anything be put of new Osage to maintain its yellow color?   :confused:   Thanks.

[PAPA BEAR]

while i'm no expert i do not believe you can stop the change.you can slow it down by leaving it in a dark closet but even then it will darken as it cures. jmo

[David McLendon]

Use Amarillo instead of Osage, it will never turn.

[yolo]

I have built a few bows over the past 25 years and I have never been able to stop the change. I tried sealing it, putting it in the dark etc. and as soon as the air hits it, or it's cut and dies maybe it starts to turn. If you figure it out let me know.

[Canadabowyer]

I have heard, but not experienced, that Argentine Osage keeps its color better than North American Osage. Check out West Penn hardwoods in New York.

[SERGIO VENNERI]

What David Said!! amarillo is awesome!

[Butch Speer]

Osage is photo tropic. The light makes it change color. Sorry but, there really isn't anyting to stop it.

[David Mitchell]

I too love the look of "new" osage.  A buddy of mine got a Hummingbird longbow from Ben Graham and had Ben dye birdseye maple lams osage yellow.  It turned out beautiful and still has that beautiful yellow look.

[getstonedprimitivebowhunt]

I kind of like the dark aged wood ! Peel back the leather handle to see the yellow. lol !

[Looper]

Would a UV inhibitor prohibit it from changing colors?

[traditional beagle]

Nope

[Red Boar]

Just as I thought...I love Osage with its ties to traditional archery, but to me aged Osage looks blah.    :p    Seems like someone would have invented something to preserve it.

[Wannabe1]

Osage is my favorite wood and I personally love the aging process. But, like you, it is best in its early stage.  

[rainman]

Stain the osage when it is yellow with a yellow alcohol dye.  It will stay yellow.  You can treat Purple heart with the purple stain the same way.

[Ragnarok Forge]

A UV protective finish would slow the darkening process for a while.

[TJ Jones]

I like the look of an aged osage bow. It darkens to a warm honey color and says the bow has been around awhile and has some history to it.

[John Scifres]

I had a farmer that I cut osage on said he used osage for the entryway floor of his cabin.  He used UV protective marine varnish and said it kept it's yellow color.  I never saw it though.

[Mudd]

I was visiting a farm that as a sideline sold Osage lumber and while there I was amazed to watch as they put an Osage floor in a horse trailer.

I asked them why? They said they could put in one heavier Osage floor that would last a lifetime or know that they could put in several Oak floors over a lifetime. It sure made the inside of the trailer not as dark as most horse trailers I'd ever seen. They said after the "hedge" had a chance to dry out more they'd come back and put a finish on that was mixed with sand to give a rough but "surefooted" surface to walk/stand on.

I don't know if their finish kept it yellow but what I saw was very pretty.

Sorry about the rabbit trail.. Just wanted to share.
God bless,Mudd