I made an osage flat bow this last summer Finished out at 56#s at 28, 65". It has a paraffin finish.

I strung it up today and shot it in the basement today where it was stored. I thought, man this bow seems heavy. I weighed it, and it is now 60#. Bow profile has not apparently changed.

The basement is around 55 degrees, plus with the Minnesota dry winters.

Is this common to gain this much weight? Or was the bow not completely dry?

If I reduce the limbs and reseal with wax, do I risk messing up the bow since it is already shot in?

Did you measure it on the same scale

Yes. Same scale and tiller tree.

The only difference is relative temperature and humidity.

I had that a lot with Hickory bows,regardless how well they were sealed.

Cold wood is stiffer than warm wood. Recently tested the stiffness of a slat of wood at 32f then 75f, sealed in plastic to prevent moisture content change. A weight change of a several % resulted. I'm doing the test again to confirm then will report.

Even if they're dry/seasoned, they can gain or lose a few pounds depending on the humidity of the environment they're kept in. Houses can get very dry in the winter. Down around 20% rh.

You won't hurt it by sanding a couple of pounds off of the belly. Just keep in mind it might go the other way in the 'wet season'.

Very interesting, thanks for sharing.

Probably was not completely dry when you finished it. And yes cold weather will make them fell like they have gained weight. But it should be dry now in that dry conditions. Retiller and I guess you will be fine. Also Osage selfbows will get spongIs in 98* weather with high humidity. Arvin

Probably was not completely dry when you finished it. And yes cold weather will make them fell like they have gained weight. But it should be dry now in that dry conditions. Retiller and I guess you will be fine. Also Osage selfbows will get spongIs in 98* weather with high humidity. Arvin

If a bow is weighed when warm but tested when cold its recorded arrow speed per pound will be substantially higher than actual, and vice versa.

The stave was around 10 years old, so certainly was dry. But I suspect summer humidity was a factor, even though I used a heat gun and a caul for limb profile.

What I should do is put it in the garage tonight and weigh it in a couple days when we have a predicted -10 coming on Thursday. ;-)

Please report back to with results. Arvin

Temperature was about 5 in the garage, so I put on the scale and now the bow weighed 63#.

The bow actually took about an additional 1 inch set. It had about a 1 inch set to begin with.

I planned on bringing the weight down anyway, so I heat treated in a caul to remove the set.

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