Rattan wrapped handle

[Roconman]

Can someone point me in the right direction for information on doing a Rattan handle wrap? The one's I've seen on the Black mountain  Sheepeater looks so nice,I would like to give it a try. Thanks for any info,Dan

[Pat B]

Dan, I bought rattan from a craft/hobby shop. It is chair caning and comes in widths of 1/16", 1/8" and 3/16". The thinner the rattan is the longer of a piece you need. The 1/16" uses about 17" for a 4" handle and the 3/16" uses about 8' for a 4" handle. It can be spliced but one continuous piece works and looks better.
   You can also use basket weaving material for handle wraps and it comes in more varied sizes.
  When I use rattan I soak it in warm water for a while to make it more flexible, blot it dry and begin wrapping over the tucked end. At the other end of the wrap tuck it back under the last 3 or 4 wraps, pull tight and let it dry overnight. When dry, cut the tag ends off. I like to add a bit of super glue around the top and bottom edges of the handle and a little between some of the other wraps.      Pat

[Roconman]

Thanks Pat,sounds easy enough.I'm glad I asked,I woud have glued the whole handle.I'll do a practise run on a broom handle and see how it looks.

[Stephen Graf]

Roconman - this sounds really neat.  How does it work for keeping your hand in place?  Any Pictures anybody?

[Roconman]

I dont know,the only one I have seen was on Brent Rudolph's sheepeater at Blackmoutain Bows.the first ones he made had no shelf with a floppy rest.I really like the way they look.Has anyone done one that they could post a pic of?

[Pat B]

I can't post pics here(yet) but I can e-mail pics to you. I use a bulbous handle and floppy rest on most of my bows but have some with a small, hard leather rest.
   A rattan handle wrap is great for good weather or bad. It gives a positive grip even in wet conditions and is comfortable on your hand anytime.     Pat

[shamus]

I just wrote an article about it in Primitive Archer.

basically, soak it and wrap it. Let it dry. Snip the ends. Don;t sand it. Look for "binder cane" in the hobby shop.

[Mark Baker]

I did the first ones on Brent's sheepeaters, and taught him to do them.  Basically, what Shamus said.   I've been building bows for 20 years now, and I personally think the rattan wrap is the most durable handle wrap there is, and looks great too.  It does have some drawbacks, like it can be a bit "slick" with certain gloves on, or if your hand is sweaty, but easily solved.  The floppy rest is another idea I've employed, and is similar to Ferret's floppy idea.  It, too, has a lot of great advantages.  

Here's a couple of last years bows.  

 

[Mark Baker]

My son Kory, with bull he took last fall with one of my osage selfbows with rattan handle and floppy leather rest.

 

[Mark Baker]

Wish I had some closer up pics....heres a couple more bows with them.

 

[Pat B]

Here are a few handles with rattan wraps I did a few years ago the first is a boo backed tri lam with yew core and osage belly.
 
...and the other is a sinew backed osage I built for an elk hunt in Colorado 2 years ago.
 

[Pat B]

...and another with a rattan wrap and one without with leather on back to fill out the bulbous handle.
 
 
I've been using Mickey's floppies for a few years now and love them. Both of these bows are osage self bows.         Pat