Trad Gang
Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: Axes bows n knives on February 05, 2011, 11:07:00 AM
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Hey guys I have seen 2 different ways to apply sinew. One is the traditional way I have read in the traditional bowyers bible where you apply it in small chunks and stack them like bricks on a wall. I have also seen some videos of eastern composite bow making where they soak it in water then take alot out and then soak it in hide glue and put it on a flat piece of wood and comb it back and fourth and side to side until it is like 1 flat strip of sinew and almost looks like a piece of rawhide. They then apply it by starting at one end and slightly overlaping it all the way down the length of the bow. In my opinion this looks like a simpler way to apply it but I dont imagine it would work with titebond 3 and thats what I have. Any opinions?
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You will need to use hidegule.
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Soaking is the only way to get it soft and pliable. That is why I like the sinew glue. It is the same protien base and so it is absorbed well. However Watered down TB will absorb and work as well. Instead of the comb method on wood I just Soak several bundles then when very soft (like wet hair) I hold between the thumb and forfinger and slide the other (thumb forfinger) down the length, This will ring off excess glue and straighten the fibers at the same time. If not completely straight and flat I will then dip and do this a few times till I'm satisfied. Much faster then combing.
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I use the same method a Keenan, but use TBIII.
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Here yea go:
http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=125;t=005239
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You do need to use hide glue if you're using backstrap but other then that you can use the Tite-bond glue with the finer leg sinew. Backstrap is just too course and greasy to get a decent job with the TB glue. But after a first course of hide glued/sinew you can either top coat with TB glue or another course of leg sinew/TB glue. Just some options there......Art