Hide Glue

[LaBill67]

Has anyone tried hide glue for laminating a reflex/deflex build? Also when using linen as a backing does anyone have a recommendation on how to finish it?

[KenH]

I've used modern hide glue -- Knox Gelatin -- to build a two-wood bow, basically a "tri-lam" with only two lams and siyahs added at the tips rather than recurves.  

Hide, and other natural glues require completely different gluing techniques to be successful -- you have to pain multiple "primer" coats to the parts, and let them dry before the final glue up takes place.

Are you linen backing with a cloth strip?  Or flax backing with fiber strands?

[Pat B]

Asiatic horn bows are made with hide(or fish) glue.
Finish a linen backing, whether it be cloth or flax strands just like any other backing. The glue you use to add the backing should totally penetrate the cloth or fibers and after it is dried should give you a hard surface to accept the finish. TBIII is a good glue for any cloth backings.

[LaBill67]

I guess I need to research how to use hide glue bc I was not aware of the primer requirements.  This hide glue I have is granulated and must be soaked in water then heated before use each time it is used and can only be used when it's at 140-150 degrees. I will be using a linen backing.

[LaBill67]

Originally posted by Pat B:
Asiatic horn bows are made with hide(or fish) glue.
Finish a linen backing, whether it be cloth or flax strands just like any other backing. The glue you use to add the backing should totally penetrate the cloth or fibers and after it is dried should give you a hard surface to accept the finish. TBIII is a good glue for any cloth backings.

[LaBill67]

Originally posted by LaBill67:
 

Originally posted by Pat B:
Asiatic horn bows are made with hide(or fish) glue.
Finish a linen backing, whether it be cloth or flax strands just like any other backing. The glue you use to add the backing should totally penetrate the cloth or fibers and after it is dried should give you a hard surface to accept the finish. TBIII is a good glue for any cloth backings.

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Thanks for the tip.  I laid down a linen backing yesterday on long bow I'm currently building.  Fortunately I did saturate the linen with TBIII.  This was my first attempt with linen backing.

[KenH]

Yes, we build many varieties of Asiatic composite bows using hide glue, fish bladder glue and other natural adhesives.   Yes, the stuff must often be 'cooked' to a certain temperature to be used.  That's all normal.  But if you just slather two pieces of wood with hide glue the way you would with Titebond, you won't get a very good joint.  PM me and I'll give you the URLs for some of the Asian bow-making groups  (TG doesn't like us posting the URLs of competing groups here).