Backing with Rawhide (a how to video)

[Clay Hayes]

Here's a quick look at backing an osage bow with rawhide.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iBf7HUlMjs&feature=player_embedded

[macbow]

Very nice Clay.

[red hill]

Always enjoy and learn from your videos, Clay.  Great job!

[cunruhshoot]

Good stuff Clay - would love to see a video on backing with snakeskin.

[takefive]

Great information and it sure makes me think about trying rawhide.  Thanks for posting    

[Buemaker]

Very good, interesting. Bue--.

[Clay Hayes]

cunrushoot, snakeskin goes on pretty much the same.  It's just a lot thinner.

[mcinore]

Great video Clay. I wrapped mine with ace bandage and wrapped it too tight, ended up with wrap lines or grooves. They sanded out but what a pain. Again great video wish I would have seen this back then.

[redbeard126]

Thanks Clay- I have an old oak board bow that needs to be backed. I think I'll try rawhide!

[Clay Hayes]

Hey redbeard, I think rawhide would be great for a redoak board bow. goodluck

[tim roberts]

Thanks Clay,
I got a Yew bow that is ready for backing, before any more tillering can, should be done, this helps a lot!

[Ironfist_Canada]

I have tried this before without success. The rawhide was still moist when I glued and wrapped and it just came off the back easily. I used TB2 and the bow was Maple. I pretty much did what you did. Q  how much moisture is left in the rawhide when you glue it up and would preforming the hide work ok.In other words wrap it and let it dry then glue it up. I liked your video its very helpful but I have had problems in the past.  Thanks in advance.  JOHN.

[Clay Hayes]

hi John, I didn't do anything different than what I showed in the video. I think what may have happened with your raw hide is it probably had some oil on the skin or there was a loose membrane on the inside of the rawhide. If there's lose membrane on the flesh side of the rawhide it can sometimes cause you're backing to come off because the glue doesn't set on the main part of the rawhide.

[Ironfist_Canada]

OKay Clay  thanks I will check that next time.

[timbermoose]

clay, thanks for the vid bud. i ordered some rawhide from you after watching. what would be a good paint to use for a native style?

[tim roberts]

Just got a yew stave done yesterday!
Before going ahead and doing this, there was a bend in the yew stave that needed to be removed, laying the stave on its side and holding on end down the other end was about 4-5" off the table, I heated it and got the bend out, then it all looked good to go, and so I went about as the video showed, before I started the stave hade some reflex in it, after I finished the reflex had turned into a bit of deflex, is this because of the moisture that was added to one side?  Will it dry out?
Thanks,

[Clay Hayes]

timbermoose, I sent your backing off the other day.  hopefully it won't take too long to get up there.

I'm not sure about a paint.  I've never painted any kind of designs on a bow before.

[Clay Hayes]

Tim, moisture could be the problem.  That's a big one.  I started wrapping staves in plastic wrap before steaming to avoid this.  You have to steam it a little longer though to get the wood hot enough.

Another possibility is pulling the bow to far to quickly, while it's still heavy.  I try not to pull the bow past the target draw weight while tillering.