USING FUR SILENCERS???

[EASTERNARCHER]

I got a nice mink pelt hanging around, and I wonder, do you just cut strips of the raw pelt to use as wrapped silencers, or does it need to be dried/tanned?

How thick do I cut the strips, and for how long to make a decent silencer?

[LBR]

I always used a tanned hide when I used fur silencers.  

Get a very sharp knife (x-acto works well) and a piece of wood.  Stick the end of the knife through the hide (skin side) into the wood, then pull the hide to cut rather than try pulling the knife against the hide--you will cut a lot less hair this way.

I liked mine about 1/8-1/4" wide, 6" long.

Chad

[Doug Treat]

I have another question related to this:  How do you then attach the fur to the string?

[Jerry Jeffer]

Put one end through the string, then wrap it around tight following the twist of the sting. Finally insert the left over end through. Then secure both ends with dental floss. Do it with the bow unstrung. I have some beaver strips cut all ready if you don't want to cut that mink.

[EASTERNARCHER]

Thanks Jeff, but I think the customs guys wouldn't be happy about animal fur crossing the border without permits..LOL

Thanks all the same. I think th emink will have to do.

[ishiwannabe]

Nice...I was gonna ask those exact same questions today. I even checked for the How-to section...I love this site.

[LBR]

I slipped one end through the string, wrapped it around, shoved it up tight (into a "ball"), the inserted the other tag through the string.  Never tied one off with anything, and never had one come out--but a little added security wouldn't hurt.

Chad

[traditional beagle]

Go to fishing section and look in the fly tying department. Some times they have several different kinds of fur in small bags. Cheap and enough to make several pieces. If the hide is not tanned and soft it can rattle on the string if it is not tight enough.