Thickness of rawhide backing?

[b.glass]

I know it's been covered before but I'm having trouble finding it.

How thin should a rawhide backing be?

[PEARL DRUMS]

Similar to construction paper Bona. I have some a little thicker and some a little thinner. Most pieces have a taper to them. I put the thicker end at the handle and the thinner end at the tips. You can sand it down after its glued up. Works good for holding it!

[Pat B]

Thin like Pearlie said. Deer and goat rawhide is perfect but cow usually has to be thinned.

[PEARL DRUMS]

Mine is all goat rawhide. I have never used cow rawhide.

[b.glass]

I think what I used was deer. But it was pretty thick I thinned it some by using a cabinet scraper before applying. I thought maybe a mm would be ok but that is thicker than construction paper.

I did what you mentioned Chris. Put the thicker at the handle.

Thanks Pat and Chris.

Bona

[red hill]

What about the dog chews made of rawhide?  Those would appear to be quite thick.

[b.glass]

Tim Baker suggests using them in the Traditional Bowyers Bibles. They would be pretty thick. I thinned the rawhide I had by using a "goose neck" cabinet scraper but it was just a little too thick. Three mm in some spots. You would have to thin it in some way to get it to lay right on the bow or have it cut exactly to fit and thin it after it dries.

[b.glass]

Besides, there are enough suppliers out there anymore that you shouldn't have to resort to using the dog chews.

[PEARL DRUMS]

Exactly Bona. Rawhide is available quite cheap, or for trade.

[bucksbuouy]

Ive used cow raw hide before and it turned out great. Im not convinced that the thickness has much bearing on performance but as usual, thats just my humble opinion.