Processing sinew ?????

[Danny Rowan]

Ok, gonna make up some bamboo arrows and haft some stone points to them. Got some buff leg sinew. How do I get it down to the fibers? Beat the snot out of it with a hammer?

Danny

[Flinttim]

Danny, beat it with a hammer (ball peen the best IMO) over another piece of steel. I use a section of old railroad track . Between the rounded face of the ball peen and the curved top of the rail I get a nice job without cutting any fibers. Once you get that done just seperate with your fingers into smaller strands.

[the Ferret]

I only use the hammer enough to break up the initial casing, then I do it all by working my fingers between the strands and separating them like you would knotted hair (I remember when I had hair and it felt the same way       )

Anyhow keep forcing your fingers in and separating until there are no more knots and the sinew is white and fluffy.

I leave the last 1/4-3/8" together at the bottom to give me something to hold on to and keep the sinew together

[AZStickman]

Danny here's a little pictorial I did a while back that might help......
  "Sinew Harvest and Preparation"  

And

  "Pounding it out and applying it"  

Hope they help....... Terry

[crashcastle]

hey terry i heard from a buddy your the guy to get sinew from if this is true what would you like for some  cash or trade