Sinew backing questions (with picts)

[SEMO_HUNTER]

I wish I had a little helper like that, sometimes I could honestly use the help! There are certain things and certain times where a 3rd hand would be most welcomed, and I don't know why the good Lord didn't give us a 3rd arm sticking straight out of our foreheads? That would be the perfect spot for an arm sometimes.
I guess cause we would be too creepy looking?    

[Pat B]

Kelly, if you put a drop of hide glue on a piece of glass it will pull out a cone of glass as it dries so I guess it could draw up a piece of wood as well...so I stand corrected. d;^)

[oneraindog]

hey im hoping i can revive this thread with some questions i have.

1. i just sinewed my first bow. it is really messy looking. am i just clumsy or does everyones look lumpy and odd the first go?

2. i put two layers down in one sitting. jim hamm states in his book bows and arrows of native americans and in bowyers bible that there is no difference in drying between layers and doing all layers. im curious if others have tried both ways?

3. i only got through two layers before running out of glue. i had powdered hide glue filling up about a third-ish of a  sandwich size ziplock and my bow is about 59" long, 1/2 at the tip and maybe 1 1/2 at grip.  does that sound right or did i go overboard on my gluing?

4. hamm recomends a generous layering of hide glue as a last layer after the sinew is down. i first thought i would just leave it at 2 layers (one full layer and one strip down the center) so i just spread out a good helping of hide glue after my last layer. if i go back and add a third layer over the whole back will that thick layer of glue throw things off? should i wait till it is cured and scrape it down first?

5. my sinewing did not go over the sides too much. is it a functional necessity for the sides of the bow to be fully sinewed?

thank you so much to whoever reads thisand has the patience to answer.

[fujimo]

never done a sinew bow, but have read that combing the dry sinew very well before soaking- really helps get a smooth finish.
it was combed with a block of wood with a bunch of fine( finishing) nails through the block- geuss one should pre drill the holes for the nails, or all trhose nails will split the wood.
the comb was clamped to the table and the sinew was pulled through it.

[Pat B]

You can sand the dried sinew to smooth it out a bit. Then you can add a smooth 3rd layer over that. Having the sinew only on the back is OK but wrapping it over the sides a little really secures it to the bow.
  On the few sinew backed bows I've done I added 3 layers of sinew with a month drying time between each layer. Many put all the sinew down at once. I thin it is a matter of personal preference. Doing it one layer at a time lets you see how each layer covers and then you can fill in where needed for the next layer.
  Be sure to allow plenty of time for the sinew/hide glue to cure especially is humid summer weather. Also, the wood soaks up some of the moisture and that has to dry also.

[oneraindog]

thanks pat.
you say allow the glue to cure completely meaning before i sand and add the third layer? or can i just go ahead and put that on now with no sanding on the extra glue layer i put over the bow after the 2nd layer?
sorry if that is confusing.

what about my question about amount of glue? any thoughts on that?

[Pat B]

You can do it either way. If it has been a while since you added the last glue a light sanding will expose fresh glue and you'll get better adhesion. Wiping the surface with warm water might do the same thing.  
 When I made my sinew backed bows I used as little hide glue as possible and still get good adhesion. Sinew/hide glue weigh more than wood fo you are adding physical weight and that can reduce some of the benefits of the sinew.

[don s]

i remember reading in one of the TBBs that knox geletin can be used as hide glue. does anyone else remember reading this or has anyone used it? don

[Blkbird]

[Pat B]

I've used Knox with pretty good results. It is refined, food grade hide glue.

[Lee Slikkers]

Good thread...hope to give the Knox a try soon