Grocery Bag...

[baretraks]

I've heard a lot of people talking about using brown paper grocery bags, and paper drywall tape for backing selfbows....
     I was wondering if anyone has a pic of a bow that is backed in this manner, I'm not doubting the functional part of it, I'd just like to see how they look after their finished. Yeah, I know looks wont take down a deer, but we all like a pretty bow!

[John Scifres]

I'd not trust paper for much more than a feel good measure.  If I feel backing is required, silk or rawhide is the ticket.  I know people have done it and not had a splinter raise but I can't imagine the paper did much.  The ones I've seen have been painted or look like they have paper pasted to them  

[Minuteman]

Rawhide IS a much better safety measure. The one paper bag backed bow I made looked like dog vomit.

[Jeremy]

I've done one with paper backing (ash pyramid bow).  I did 3 or 4 layers of paper (can't remember which at this point).  First 2 were thin strips and the last were full-length on each limb.  After the finish was applied is was an intersting effect... the paper ended up semi-transparent so you could see multiple strips underneath... from a distance it looked kind of looked similar to sinew.  With the notable "Stop&Shop" logo showing through on one limb!  :D

A single layer of paper probably won't do much, but 3-4 isn't much different than the 'fiber' backing in the 40's.

[baretraks]

I got this idea out of the "Traditional Bowyers Bible". They said that back in the sixties, some of the mass produced bows were backed with cellulose, and that a brown paper bag would work in a pinch....I know a few guys that back selfbows with paper drywall tape, but never saw one that was finished....it couldn't be uglier than the others I've made!!!
Thanks guys