A different kind of backing.....

[talkingcabbage]

I was at my brother's house today helping him put in a dishwasher, and as always, started spacing off thinking about what my next bow project would be.  My eyes wandered to a corner where he has a few random antlers arranged on a shelf with some turkey beards, and I got to thinking.  Has anyone ever thought of, or tried to use, turkey beards as a bow backing?  It seems as if you layered them similar to sinew, that they'd be something to try.

Is this the ravings of a madman, or might there be something to it?  Granted, you'd have to spend a few years killing turkeys to get enough, but you think it'd work?

Let's get a discussion going on this.  Has anyone used a less-than-usual material for backing?  What's the strangest backing material that anyone has used/seen?

[Pat B]

I doubt that a strand of turkey beard would equal the strength of a similar size piece of sinew. The weight of the beard strands and glue would detract from the bows cast.IMO
I did see a bow posted on PA that had turkey breast feathers down each limb as a decoration. Looked pretty cool!
  Oh! to answer your second question...yes, no!  d;^)

[John Scifres]

You could always take a strand of turkey beard and test it for strength and stretch but I'm with Pat on this one.

Bamboo is the tension strongest backing I have used.  Sinew is also great.  There are plenty of things that will help your bow from raising a splinter.  Turkey beards would do that.

[Roy Steele]

Turkey beards are to f***le.I once put a turkey beard sticking out from under the handle for someone.

[talkingcabbage]

Alright.  It was just a thought.  I'm sure it's no where near as strong as sinew, I was just thinking of what it would be like if you layered it like sinew with hide glue.  Oh, well.  Guess I'll keep daydreaming.