Oil a longbow???

[Skillet]

Hello all, new to the forum and have a question...

I've got an older ('40s) lemonwood longbow on the way, supposed to have seen little use and still in the box.

Question is, should I use any oil (linseed etc.) on a longbow? No lamination on this one except for the handle. Might oil attack the glue in the laminated handle and cause a seperation?

Just wondering if oiling the wood will hurt or help.

HH!
Skillet

[rlm2007x]

I know too much oil will crack a wood gun stock.  Robert

[Graybeard]

I'd avoid oil and use a good furniture wax instead if it were mine.

[zombiewolf]

I have been involved in fine wood working for many years,and in my experience, unvarnished fruit wood will benefit from an occasional light application of oil to prevent it from drying out.
Linseed oil is a drying oil and it is not for this purpose.
It is used as a component of varnish, or is used by itself (more likely "boiled linseed oil").Linseed oil drys very slowly and your bow will be sticky for along time!
Instead, use lemon oil or even lemon pledge furniture polish.(contains lemon oil)
In the '40s, they used phenolic resin for glue so lemon oil won't effect it at all.

My 2 cents worth hope it helps 

[scout4]

Hey Skillet you might want to try using mineral oil I use it in longbows that Ive made and it works pretty good. Hand rub it in just like you would a lotion leave it set for several hours and the oil soaks down into the wood real good. Now this is on a bare wooden bow that I have backed with a layer of linen and the stuff worked great for me. good luck! scout4<><