Do I need to follow the "longitudinal grain" with sinew backing

[Justin Falon]

I am making a 2nd attempt at a heavy weight sinew backed plains indian bow.  Do I need to follow the longitudinal grain or can I just back it with sinew even though there are many ring violations.  Thanks.

justin

[John Scifres]

I generally follow a ring and the grain regardless of sinew or not.  I have broken that rule a few times and am about 50/50 on success.

[mwirwicki]

Yes, follow the longitudinal grain when drawing out your bow whether you sinew, or not.

[Pat B]

I agree. Follow the grain. You can probably get away with more problems when you sinew back a bow but is it worth all the effort for something that might or might not work?

[Justin Falon]

so what I am hearing is that a sinew backing will not solve my belly problems????

[Pat B]

What belly problem?

[Justin Falon]

the belly has a lot of nots and what not.  I am nowhere near final dimensions and will have to induce some heat to bend it from side to side. Shaped more like a mild S at this time.  I hate to waste a bunch of sinew on this bow but I love the wideness of the back of the bow and hope to get a really good flatbow out of it yet!!!

justin

[Pat B]

If the unspeekable happens, you can retrieve the sinew if you use a water soluable glue(hide glue, gelatin, etc). Generally knots on the belly aren't as critical as knots on the back. Knots handle compression better than they handle tension.

[Justin Falon]

Pat,

The stave has a mild twist in it that I will have to work out with heat after I get the bow cut out. I still have a fair thickness for the stave and will just have to see how it goes.  I am too impatient to put horn on the belly.  Sinewing takes long enough for me.

[Pat B]

What wood are you using Warrior? A mild twist is no problem for a self bow or sinew backed bow. Both and take some twist without any problems. Also if you have to, you can remove the twist while tillering by removing wood from the strong side.