Author Topic: First attempt with sinew (Read 730 times)

GREG IN MALAD · « **on:** February 28, 2011, 01:27:00 AM »

This was one of my first bows, #4 to be exact. It was an osage flatbow that was poorly tillered and very whip ended. So now ten years later I decided to fix it. I bent the outer 10" into 1.5" of reflex to fix the whip ends and aligned the tips while I was at it. I also shredded a bunch of sinew to keep the reflex from pulling out and because the stave is very fine ringed. So next weekend I'll get my fingers dirty and sinew this thing. At 66" I know it is too long for best results but it has a non bending handle and I draw 29". I'm hoping this goes well and doesn't end up as this.

Art B · « **Reply #1 on:** February 28, 2011, 07:30:00 AM »

That's a fine looking osage bow there Greg. But I think personally, 62" is about max for your draw length to really get any benefit from sinew........Art

Walt Francis · « **Reply #2 on:** February 28, 2011, 02:02:00 PM »

2-X what Art said. Have you considered cutting off two inches from both ends and then backing with sinew?

PEARL DRUMS · « **Reply #3 on:** February 28, 2011, 06:20:00 PM »

Greg I am doing dang near the same thing you are with a hickory self bow from 10 years ago with the same "issues". I cut it down to 61" ( I pull 29") and Im in the process of sinewing the bow while clamped with 4" of relfex. I applied my second layer last night and will wait 4-5 days for my final layer. Hopefully I have pics in a week or so. scrub-buster traded me enough sinew for 20 bows! I wont use it all in my lifetime, but its nice clean, processed stuff. Good luck with yours, hope it works out for you.

GREG IN MALAD · « **Reply #4 on:** February 28, 2011, 07:09:00 PM »

I have considered cutting it down but I want to wait until the sinew is dry and I can shoot it. My main objective is durability not speed, and it seems that everytime I cut a bow shorter I regret it. After shredding sinew for 4 hours i figured out that glass isn't so bad, my fingers are still sore.

PEARL DRUMS · « **Reply #5 on:** February 28, 2011, 07:15:00 PM »

I felt the same way until I realized my bow was just short of worthless as it was, so I said the heck with it and cut it down. Yours looks to be better off than mine was though.

GREG IN MALAD · « **Reply #6 on:** March 06, 2011, 04:16:00 PM »

I glued on three layers of sinew yesterday with Titebond 3, I hope this is how it's supposed to look. How much will the sinew shrink when dry(thickness)? Right now it looks like it's a 1/4" thick.

Art B · « **Reply #7 on:** March 06, 2011, 05:16:00 PM »

It's thickness is probably going to be a little better than 1/8" once dry Greg. Just two layers on mine appear to be about 1/8" thick. Did you reflex your bow a good bit to start with? Art

PEARL DRUMS · « **Reply #8 on:** March 06, 2011, 06:15:00 PM »

Looks nice, yours is a little smoother than mine. I have one layer left to go. Hopefully my bumpy job wont cause ill effects.

GREG IN MALAD · « **Reply #9 on:** March 06, 2011, 07:55:00 PM »

Art,
All I did is bend the tips into reflex to fix the whip tiller. I was going to stop after two layers but it looked really bumpy. I added the third layer so I could scrape and sand it smooth. It's been in front of a fan for 24 hours and is drying nicely, still a bit soft in a couple places, but not bad. Waiting for it to dry is going to be torture.

Art B · « **Reply #10 on:** March 07, 2011, 07:48:00 AM »

I like to place my freashly sinewed backed bows where it's cool for slow drying. Seems to get less cracks/seperation in the sinew.

Just me, but with that length bow, I'd applied one layer, let dry, and see if that would've give me what I needed. Then applied a second layer if needed. Three layers may add more physical weight and may be more of a detraction than benefit. But that can be easily solved with a rasp/file/scraper if you so choose.

About 7-10 days is as long as I wait Greg. I haven't noticed any changes after that amount of time when using the TB glue. Good luck, keep us informed..........Art

GREG IN MALAD · « **Reply #11 on:** April 03, 2011, 10:07:00 PM »

It's been a month, I cant wait any longer. It took an extra inch of reflex as the sinew dried bringing the total to 2 1/2". I strung it today and worked out the flat spots. Next weekend I will start working it on the tree.

StoneAK · « **Reply #12 on:** April 03, 2011, 10:13:00 PM »

That looks good I love sinew it saved me on a few bows now!

red hill · « **Reply #13 on:** April 04, 2011, 09:42:00 PM »

That last pic looks pretty good, Greg. I'm interested in how this works out.
Good luck,
Stan

b.glass · « **Reply #14 on:** April 06, 2011, 10:58:00 AM »

Looking good Greg. I'm liking those lines.

Lee Slikkers · « **Reply #15 on:** April 06, 2011, 08:40:00 PM »

Very interesting project...what are the pro's / con's of using TBIII vs hide glue?

b.glass · « **Reply #16 on:** April 09, 2011, 12:37:00 PM »

Lee, TB3 is waterproof and hide glue is not. The bow I sinewed with TB3 had a kind of brownish color when done and the hide glue had more of a natural sinew look. (I wondered if there was any difference between the elk and the deer sinew there also). The TB3 seemed easier to use, less messy. No double boiler needed to keep the glue liquified. For some reason, even though TB3 sounds like the better of the two, I like the hide glue better.

GREG IN MALAD · « **Reply #17 on:** April 09, 2011, 07:19:00 PM »

I did some scraping and sanding today. Right now it draws 52#@30"

This is drawn to 30". The right limb looks flat at midlimb, but it has a little propeller twist in it. When you turn the bow around the flat spot goes away.

After being strung for 3 hours and worked to 30" it holds 1 1/4" reflex. After one hour it return's to 2 1/4" of reflex.

Now if it will stop raining I can start shooting it.

okie64 · « **Reply #18 on:** April 09, 2011, 08:08:00 PM »

That looks great Greg!

StoneAK · « **Reply #19 on:** April 09, 2011, 08:10:00 PM »

It does have a nice profile to it. Looks excellent to me

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Author Topic: First attempt with sinew (Read 730 times)

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