rawhide backing advice

[tah-gah-jute]

i have a black locust bow i'm working on.wasn't originally planning on backing but had some grub or borer damage.i put layer of deer sinew on it a month or two ago.didn't really like the way it looks.so i was going to put elk rawhide over the sinew.figure it would add extra strength plus look alot better plus could do some art work on rawhide.question for you guys that have experience working with rawhide do you put it on dry or moist,make a difference over sinew,and do you size it like before adding sinew.thanks

[Dano]

Put it on moist, What glue are you planning on using? How thick is this rawhide?

[tah-gah-jute]

was using tb3,that's what i used with the sinew.rawhide is pretty thin probably no more than 1/16"

[Dano]

Sounds good, that oughta work. I wouldn't worry about sizing the sinew first since you using the same glue.

[tah-gah-jute]

thanks Dano.met you at mojam last year.

[Pat B]

What Dano said.  Just like his byline suggests!

[tah-gah-jute]

so,do you just moisten or does it have to sit in warm water?sorry didn't want to mess bow up by doing it wrong.thanks

[Dano]

Hey Tim, did you make it again this year? Yes, soak it for about an hour. Are you going to wrap it with ace bandages ? If so don't wrap too tightly, or you'll leave indentations in the rawhide.

[tah-gah-jute]

Dano,one more dumb question.wondering best way to trim rawhide.would it be best to soak first then after gluing on back lay bow on back and trim excess off with exacto knife?didn't know if it would cut better after moist than trying to cut it while hard.no,didn't make it to mojam this year.would have liked to have made it but fuel cost.plus me and son went to bow class with Ryan O'Sullivan this last weekend.it was great!!!!!yeah probably will wrap with ace bandage.thanks for help.

[Dano]

I bet that was fun, I'd like to meet Ryan one day. I would trim the rawhide first while it's dry, leave about 1/4 extra width to help line it up. The final trimming you'll do when it's dried for a day. I use a sanding block with 100 grit paper, you can use a rasp too, but that takes too much wood IMO.