Rawhide application

[bigcountry]

Getting ready to apply my first rawhide to a bow.  

Its deer rawhide.  Do I really need to take a hacksaw blade to rough up the back?  The reason I am backing is this bow has some check in the back and worried about it.  The idea of a hacksaw blade is just kinda scary.

Also, after cleaning the back of the bow with dish detergent or whatever, do I have to "size" it with titbondIII and let it dry for a while or just tacky?

[Dano]

If the hack saw blade bothers you, you can rough up the back with 60 grit sand paper. The TB will dry in the time it takes the rawhide to soak. I know there's nothing worse than standing around watching glue dry.     Remember, don't wrap the rawhide too tightly with the ace bandage, you'll leave indentations in the hide, and possibly shift the hide.

[bigcountry]

Thanks Dano.  I would rather use 60grit.

[bigcountry]

Well, the old saying my granddaddy used to say ringed true again today.  He said nothing worth a darn is easy.  I approached the rawhidin as a walk in the park.  And it probably is if you follow the steps.

One, I thought it would groovy to use painters tape to mask off the rest of the bow besides back and 1/8" off the sides.  And it might be, just don't leave alot of excess hanging on the bottom.

2nd, I thought I didn't need to fit this stuff to the back.  WRONG.  It wrappes around the wide sections but tip, you have a nightmare with wrapping with ace bandage.

3rd, I thought it would be more pliable.  I soaked it for over 1/2 hour.

These darn air bubbles were rough.  I dread unwrapping and seeing the mess I made.  I used a socket to roll, and have been doing that for the last hour.

[George Tsoukalas]

I had a hard time with my first also, big. I found that I had better success if I got the hide close to bow dimensions and a not wrap it but I've only done a couple. Jawge

[bigcountry]

I learned a ton.  One thing I have learned is I can ask you guys questions all day long, but you won't learn much until you dive in and do it.

I took the ace off this morning and turned out better than I thought.  Got a few airbubbles, I need to tend too.  

Bad news is I used masking tape to hold the rawhide in place on a few places, and it was still wet after 15 hours.  I just rewrapped it with the ace.  And going to let it sit for a week.

I think its going to be ok

I was worried about the strength of deer rawhide. I took a thin piece I cut off and tryed to pull it apart, and couldn't do it.  That said alot.

[bigcountry]

Originally posted by George Tsoukalas:
I had a hard time with my first also, big. I found that I had better success if I got the hide close to bow dimensions and a not wrap it but I've only done a couple. Jawge

I would say you know a think or two George.  

[Dano]

Now you see what these guy's that make glass bows go through except 4 and 5 times the fun. After you've done a few you'll be a pro. I use a rubber sanding block to finish the edges, some use a rasp, but that's a little aggressive for me.

[George Tsoukalas]

Thanks, Dano. You've got some good learnin' your self.  I love this stuff. I'm still learning.    Jawge