Staining with Ironchloride

I always work on many bows simultaneously. Lately tried one and the same stain on different wood species. You see the colors are quite different belonging to the species. I suppose it has to do with the different tan acids in the bow and the different amount of acids.

Don’t ask for the recipe, I have mixed a big can of that stuff about 20 years ago. I have so much it will last into the next generation, haha.

Well here are some pics, always one in shadow followed by one in sunlight.

I have sorted the pics in that row they are leaning on the wall.

The species are (from left):

– cornelian cherry (cornus mas)

– mulberry (morus alba)

– norway maple (acer platanoides)

– wild plum (prunus ???)

– sloe (prunus spinosa)

– walnut (juglans regia)

– hazel (corylus)

– serviceberry (amelanchier)

– dogwood (cornus sanguinea), little cambium

– dogwood (cornus sanguinea), more cambium

– black locust (robinia pseudoaccacia)

– elderberry (sambucus niger)

– elm (ulmus glabra)

cornus mas
cornus mas

morus alba
morus alba

acer platanoides
acer platanoides

prunus ???? (it is a wild plum, don’t know the excact species)
prunus ???? (it is a wild plum, don’t know the excact species)

prunus spinosa
prunus spinosa

juglans regia
juglans regia

corylus
corylus

amelanchier
amelanchier

cornus sanguinea
cornus sanguinea

cornus sanguinea
cornus sanguinea

robinia pseudoaccacia
robinia pseudoaccacia

sambucus niger
sambucus niger

ulmus glabra
ulmus glabra

4 Comments

they are very beautiful,I can never imanging,wooden bow can be so free,you give me a lot of new idea at makeing a triditional bow,thanks a lot

Hello sir, I am also a bow and arrow making enthusiast. I would like to know if the iron chloride you are using is a powder and water debugging method, or is it a direct purchase of iron chloride solution?thank you!

Hi Yang,
I use a solution of water and iron chloride (comes as powder or little balls).
You should also test out another method: soak steel whool in vinegar acid over night and apply.
Both solutions makes different stain on wood, and different wood species react different with the solution making different colors.
Test it, before you apply on a bow to be sure you get what you want!

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