Scrap wood osage bow? Full draw pics added.

[b.glass]

That's better!

 

 

But now I have a splinter to fix. I put thin CA in it already. I'm thinking I can sand that down a little and maybe add a little more and it will hold. What do you think?

[hova]

i cant really see it that well , but if its not too deep , as long as your tips arent moving (much) , a thread wrap might be all you need.


looks great , show me yer form...

[b.glass]

This is the form that I tried to copy from John Scifres osage recurve video tutorial thread. It may not be exact but it did the trick. I just didn't take it all the way back into a recurve. I stopped and held it about halfway.

[b.glass]

Here is my pile of elk leg sinew on the leather that I may use for the handle wrap. Twenty pieces, I hope it's enough. I will start processing it soon.

[b.glass]

Rear leg sinew from an elk kinda smells bad, go figure. If the first piece I processed is any indication twenty should be plenty!

[Pat B]

Bona, when you get the sinews shreaded give it a good wash in warm water and Dawn dish soap just before sinewing your bow. It will degrease the sinew and help to get rid of the smells too.

[b.glass]

Sounds like a good idea Pat. I don't remember the deer sinew I worked smelling like this.  

[Pat B]

If it wasn't stored correctly and had the least bit of moisture still in it it will begin to smell. I have some shreaded sinew that a friends kids shreaded and I traded with them. I noticed a smell when I got it. Not bad but I didn't want it to get bad. I sat the sinew in a sunny window in my sunroom and let it dry for a few more days before putting it back in aziploc bag.+

[b.glass]

I like storing mine in an bucket with some cedar shavings and a tight lid.

[John Scifres]

I use moose sinew which is a touch longer than elk.  It takes 4 legs worth to do a bow, maybe 3 good courses.

I used to assume 8 deer legs to do a bow.  Elk should be in the middle so assume 6.  Looks like you have plenty.  Where did you order it?

[b.glass]

The place is called Eidnes Furs out of Idaho or Utah, one of those states. I have gotten pretty good service from them. I don't think they offer moose sinew, where do you get moose.

I've get about 4 pieces done so far, (coarsely done).

I also got some bear rawhide. It's pretty thin. I'm hoping it will make good backing for a pecan board bow.

Also, I've research natural pigments again and have come up with a load of good info. I want to "paint" the back of some bows including this one. Blood makes a nice red on sinew.

[b.glass]

My muscles and hands are sore from processing this sinew but I think I have enough now. I'm hoping to get the bow sinewed tomorrow.

[b.glass]

The sinewing is done.

   

   

   

I took the deflex out of the center of the bow before hand and I hope that the drying will induce some reflex. Extra sinew in the handle area. And I used TBIII. It's in the house where the RH is 45%.

I think I figured out what makes this sinew extra smelly. Besides the smell of manure and urine it smells like....moth balls. Yuck! I washed it before hand in Dawn dish soap like Pat suggested.

Now I wait.

[Pat B]

Coming along nicely, Bona.

[b.glass]

Thanks Pat. I'm kinda feeling like John is about his perfect bow. This is definitely one of the coolest bows I've made. It is sitting just off to my right and I keep looking at it, willing the sinew to cure.

[Pat B]

I've tried that with little luck! d;^)  Fortunately at this time of year the air is pretty dry and you will notice a change tomorrow and the next few days after that. Once the sinew gets transparent it makes it harder to leave it along because it doesn't seem to change much. You will probably notice some reflex being drawn in though.

[b.glass]

I just got home from work. It is just five hrs from being 24 hrs since I started the sinewing. It is now more of a brown color and has hardened quite a bit. The only spot that still has alot of give is in the handle where I put extra courses. I can now see some places that need another strip or so added on the opposite side from where I sat yesterday. There are some grooves in it.

[Pat B]

Bona, use your next course to fill in the voids and bare spots and to even up the sinew backing.

[Art B]

If you would run your fingers or a wet dowel over the sinew and it's drying out it'll have less voids and seperations in it.......Art

[hova]

we need some auvtomat bots to compile all these little tips...

wonderful looking sinew. i was going to purchase 20 deer sinew too , but i might have a buddy with moose...

a+ bona.