Fabric backings

[WILL CAROTHERS]

Which fabrics can be used as backings? I cant find silk anywhere, and i don't really like the look of linen. Can i maybe use satin?

[dmikeyj]

Will, you can use anything you want, problem is, not all fabrics will offer any type of protection against lifting splinters.  What I would suggest is pick a fabric you like the looks of, but...
test the stretch of the fabric in 3 planes (up/down, left/right, and on the bias between those 2).
If the fabric stretches in every direction, don't use it for any protection.  If you are doing it for looks only, no biggie.  Usually, you can find one direction a fabric won't stretch.  That would be the line to use for cutting out a backing.

Do you have any goodwill or salvation army retail stores near you?  Any other thrift stores are likely to have silk.  Look at dresses and women's pants.  Also, silk ties will work, though you will likely need 2 to back a longer bow.

Mike

[George Tsoukalas]

My daughters and wife used to give me old dresses. I'd just wrap the seams with thread. Linen and burlap will work. Info on my site. Jawge
 http://georgeandjoni.home.comcast.net/~georgeandjoni/

[Duncan]

My favorite is Trebark camo. I have a small stash of the original stuff that was white on the backside. It is tightly woven cotton and works great for a backing. Other camo fabric works as well.

[30coupe]

I just backed my 68" hickory board bow with an old silk necktie last night. One tie was plenty with a joint at the riser. If I had cut more carefully, I might have been able to do two bows with it, but I knew it would do this one so I wasn't so careful.

Look for a tag, usually on the skinny end of the tie, that says what it is made of. Some are synthetic, which will not absorb the glue and make a good bond with the bow. Goodwill or Salvation Army Thrift Stores should have plenty of silk ties.

My wife is a quilter, so she has rolling cutters for cloth. Those work slick! If you have access to one, take the seams out of the tie, then wet it so you can lay it out flat more easily to cut it. I didn't which is why I wasted some material. You will want it damp when you put it on the bow anyway. It takes the glue better that way.

[Nim-rod]

I used a couple of strips off an old Army uniform to back a Maple bow. Worked great but soaked up alot of tung oil before I could get a good finish on it. I think it's a poly cotton blend. I'll have to do that again especially when we get the Digicams.
 

[wildcat hunter]

I've used fabric too, one a Leopard pattern and another Python pattern. They look good but as said they will not hold a splinter or if the bow wants to break - it will ( been there ).

[ALW]

Look for old ties at a thrift shop.  A lot of them are silk.  I don't think it takes much to hold down a splinter if a bow is designed reasonably well.  Even questionable material may be all it takes to keep a splinter from lifting.  If there is a major flaw in the design or serious back violation then I don't think any fabric will save it over the long term.

Aaron

[Loren Holland]

first time i have been able to log in months, here in afghanistan, god i miss reading all these posts...question, i have used linen, in a mossy oak pattern, to back and worked well, i have also used canvas when i first started, but it was ugly, anyways i saw the photo realistic snake skin pattern appliques, and was wondering if there is any backing power to them or are they just for looks...on a side note, i no its not fabric, but i have had great success with plain brown paper, and you can color on it when you do a kids bow

[Living_waters]

I found some  printed linen on * *** and got like 3 yards for 10 bucks. It is a little heavier than I like but it is strong..... and after I mist some largemouth bass green iridescent over it with an airbrush it looks really good.  

[Steve B.]

I went to fabric store and found rolls of vinyl with reptilian patterns on one side and fabric on the other.  I tell city-folk that its cobra skin from a snake I killed with my bare hands.  
Its waterproof.

 

 

[Rattus58]

Originally posted by Steve B.:
I went to fabric store and found rolls of vinyl with reptilian patterns on one side and fabric on the other.  I tell city-folk that its cobra skin from a snake I killed with my bare hands.  
Its waterproof.

  http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss327/SteveBush1/Ted2.jpg[/IMG]  

Very nice looking... what did you glue it downwith? Does carpenters glue or tite bond work?

Aloha..    :cool:    

[Steve B.]

Yea, Rattus, I used one or the other of those glues.