Question about backing with denim.

[Flyboy718]

Has anyone used old jeans to back a board bow with?  Any pointers would be well appreciated, using tite bond II.

[Pat B]

Any cloth will work as a backing. One problem with denim is it is thick and once you add the weight of the glue I think it would rob your bow of performance. Silk or linen would be a better option. You can get either at a thrift store in the form of neck ties, scarfs, blouses or skirts.

[Flyboy718]

K, going by Goodwill on the way home then...

[Flyboy718]

Originally posted by Flyboy718:
K, going by Goodwill on the way home then...

any certain procedures for the silk or linen application....saturate it with glue and glue already on the bow then wipe it clean after applying backing?

[hova]

thin layer on the fabric , let it dry , thin layer on the bow , let it dry , then glue together.


thats iirc , not experience. id hold off on experience.


and how'd they look at you when you bought that pink silk skirt...

-hov

[Pat B]

I cut the material in strips just a little wider than the limb and use two pieces, one for each limb, overlapped at the handle. Lots easier to work that way.
  I soak the material in water while I'm preping the bows back with a layer of glue. Remove the cloth from the water and get the excess water off. Add glue to a strip and lay it on the limb. Start at the handle and work out the limb removing air bubbles and excess glue pockets. When you lay it down cover the handle. With the second piece lay it over the other on the handle and work it out the limb like with the other. If the material lays flat on the back there is no need to wrap it. You'll know when you start to work the cloth. Have a few strips of old bed sheet ready for wrapping if needed.
  After about an hour or so you can trim the edges with a sharp razor. After a day dress up the edges with a file or sanding block working from back to belly so you don't pull the material up. The glue and cloth should be a solid backing when cured and not just glued down cloth.

[Flyboy718]

I am going to have to make another trip and get more silk...I don't have enough.

[macbow]

If your pieces are a little short as an option you can leave the last 6 inches or so of the tips bare.
Ron

[Flyboy718]

What do you guys use to make the back of the bow look 'traditional' after applying the backing?  Paint I guess would be the only option.

[Pat B]

Acrylic or craft paint works well. You can also fine print tissue paper and put it down over the backing for a unique look.
  The first two are animal print tissue paper and the third is craft paint from Walmart. All of these were added over rawhide(sinew and rawhide for the painted bow)but going over linen should work the same.

 

 


 

[CaptainJ]

How about lightweight ripstop nylon? I picked up a roll at a garage sale last summer for a buck.

CJ

[Pat B]

The nylon will work but one problem with synthetic materials they don't soak up the glue like natural fabrics do. For a cloth or paper backing you want the glue/cloth(paper) to become one homogeneous material like fiber glass does. The combo of the two materials is stronger than both components.