Feather backing?..Anybody ever tried it?

[Zradix]

I saw a couple pictures of bows with feather backings the other night.
For the most part all I could find as far as a "how to" were ways that ended up NOT working..or cracking in cold weather.

I've seen bows (pictures only) with hundreds of small feathers laid on the back to resemble a bird look.
I've also seen some with a single pheasant feather running up the back...kinda like snake skin.

I would think you would want a real thin clear glue.
Put some down on the bare wood back.
Then maybe you could brush the glue over the feather to incapsulated it...?
Then seal the bow with what ever sticks to the glue.

....maybe the bow should be completely finished...then just glue down a feather to the back and spray a few coats of poly on it.
I'm not wanting to go the route of laying 100's of little feathers down.
..but a couple of long tail feathers (quill shaved down of course) would be cool.

This is of course a cosmetic thing...not to strengthen the bow or whatever.

..anyway...any of ya ever tried such a thing?

[scrub-buster]

A friend made me a bow backed with turkey breast feathers.  It looks amazing.  He uses a flexible epoxy.

[Zradix]

Flexible epoxy eh?
There was one guy that did a little "how to" that used something called flex coat.
It did look great when he was done.
...however in a later update he said it sounded like a bowl of rice crispies when he pulled it back on a "cold" day...40˚.

any idea of the type of epoxy your friend used?
...have you ever shot it in cold?
..it hold up?

Thanks!

[Pat B]

Bill's turkey feather backed bow is incredible, Clint.
 

[Wolftrail]

I would assume that multiple coats of clear would be needed to build up a smooth even flat surface.

[scrub-buster]

Flexible epoxy eh?
There was one guy that did a little "how to" that used something called flex coat.
It did look great when he was done.
...however in a later update he said it sounded like a bowl of rice crispies when he pulled it back on a "cold" day...40˚.

any idea of the type of epoxy your friend used?
...have you ever shot it in cold?
..it hold up?

Thanks!

His first attempt cracked because he used Tight bond for the feathers and the epoxy for the finish.  Since then he uses the epoxy for both and he has had zero trouble.  I shot the one he made for me on a 20 degree day with no problems.  The epoxy he uses is marketed towards making fly fishing rods.

[Mo_coon-catcher]

That pheasant feather bow pictures is one of mine. I still have it hanging on the rack. I glued the feathers on with hides glue by brushing it on the bow. After thinning the quill down I put it on the tacky hide glue and used a toothbrush to paint on more hide glue into the fibers and straighten them until I was happy. You can wrap the ends of the feather to hold it still and keep the quill straight before brushing the fibers straight. I finished it with many coats of truoil. I haven’t shot it in a couple years. But I would periodically shoot it for a couple years after making it wth no issues. I should pull it down and shoot it some. It’s very short and has ~ a 40# at 20” draw
I don’t have pictures, but I’ve also done two with turkey breast feathers glued on with TB3 and sealed with truoil. To apply with TB3 I would start towards the tip and work towards the handle in 3-4” increments. Spread a layer of TB smoothly over the section, the list press the trimmed feather into the glue so that you can see the entire feather get that wet look. Repeat until finished. Once they glue is cured, trim the overhangingnfeather and use a fine file to clean it up. It seems so have worked well so far.

Kyle

[Zradix]

Extremely cool bow Mo_coon-catcher!

Thank you all for the GREAT replies.
I just might have to try this sometime.