Urushi used by Chinese bowyers?
Hi guys
I've signed up recently, so please bear with me (until the bookstore has delivered my order of bowyer's bibles :) )
I'm stuck with the question how to preserve and conserve a (future) Manchu bow project. Is it viable to try Urushi, seeing that the source tree itself is common throughout China and Korea too? Did Manchu bowyers finish their work like this? Reason for this question, I am living and hunting in Southern Africa, regularly travelling to Central African montaineous rainforests where humidity is high and rainfall most likely to occur.
BTW, guys you rock. This forum is amongst the best sources for aspiring hornbowyers, thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience!
Chris
I've signed up recently, so please bear with me (until the bookstore has delivered my order of bowyer's bibles :) )
I'm stuck with the question how to preserve and conserve a (future) Manchu bow project. Is it viable to try Urushi, seeing that the source tree itself is common throughout China and Korea too? Did Manchu bowyers finish their work like this? Reason for this question, I am living and hunting in Southern Africa, regularly travelling to Central African montaineous rainforests where humidity is high and rainfall most likely to occur.
BTW, guys you rock. This forum is amongst the best sources for aspiring hornbowyers, thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience!
Chris
Hi, welcome
Yes, urushi is good finish, though it becomes cracked on horn bow because cannot stretch far. It is used on yumi, though it is very long so does not stretch much. Yokhua show me his horn bow he put on urushi finish and it has much crack after some time.
I think finish that would be better is tung oil. This come from China, also sometime call China wood oil. Pure tung oil is good, however you need let dry for some time. Mixed tung oil dry faster, though, not sure how strong this is. Good protection however and I think maybe historically accurate.
Hope someone who know about Manchu bow can help...
Yes, urushi is good finish, though it becomes cracked on horn bow because cannot stretch far. It is used on yumi, though it is very long so does not stretch much. Yokhua show me his horn bow he put on urushi finish and it has much crack after some time.
I think finish that would be better is tung oil. This come from China, also sometime call China wood oil. Pure tung oil is good, however you need let dry for some time. Mixed tung oil dry faster, though, not sure how strong this is. Good protection however and I think maybe historically accurate.
Hope someone who know about Manchu bow can help...
Alex
thanks a lot for this interesting tip. After googling a bit I think tung oil might be what I was looking for. Hopefully someone does stock it in South Africa, my biggest problem is getting the genuine stuff down here without having to buy industrial size containers :roll:
Chris
thanks a lot for this interesting tip. After googling a bit I think tung oil might be what I was looking for. Hopefully someone does stock it in South Africa, my biggest problem is getting the genuine stuff down here without having to buy industrial size containers :roll:
Chris
Chris; A Qing bow was protected from moisture by gluing birch bark to the surfaces. There are numerous traditional ways to do this, Paint and painted bark decorations were also added. -j-
Jack, would the birch bark absorb some of the humidity, therefore protect the glue? Or would an additional protective lacquer be necessary when using the bow in above average humidity?
I just don't want to go the artificial two-component glue road...
BTW, I am reading fish glue is more resistent to humidity than hide glue. So generally speaking, using fish glue would be recommended (due to stronger binding abilities anyway)?
Chris
I just don't want to go the artificial two-component glue road...
BTW, I am reading fish glue is more resistent to humidity than hide glue. So generally speaking, using fish glue would be recommended (due to stronger binding abilities anyway)?
Chris
Chris; Just birchbark with no finish necessary. It is like a rain coat for the bow. Nothing on earth can prevent moisture from humidity from entering or leaving a bow, but finishes slow the process.
In my humble opinion fish glue is only marginally better than hide glue, if at all. People always assume that exotic, expensive materials are superior and this is not always true. -j-
In my humble opinion fish glue is only marginally better than hide glue, if at all. People always assume that exotic, expensive materials are superior and this is not always true. -j-