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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: talkingcabbage on February 21, 2009, 10:26:00 PM
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I was at my brother's house today helping him put in a dishwasher, and as always, started spacing off thinking about what my next bow project would be. My eyes wandered to a corner where he has a few random antlers arranged on a shelf with some turkey beards, and I got to thinking. Has anyone ever thought of, or tried to use, turkey beards as a bow backing? It seems as if you layered them similar to sinew, that they'd be something to try.
Is this the ravings of a madman, or might there be something to it? Granted, you'd have to spend a few years killing turkeys to get enough, but you think it'd work?
Let's get a discussion going on this. Has anyone used a less-than-usual material for backing? What's the strangest backing material that anyone has used/seen?
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I doubt that a strand of turkey beard would equal the strength of a similar size piece of sinew. The weight of the beard strands and glue would detract from the bows cast.IMO
I did see a bow posted on PA that had turkey breast feathers down each limb as a decoration. Looked pretty cool!
Oh! to answer your second question...yes, no! d;^)
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You could always take a strand of turkey beard and test it for strength and stretch but I'm with Pat on this one.
Bamboo is the tension strongest backing I have used. Sinew is also great. There are plenty of things that will help your bow from raising a splinter. Turkey beards would do that.
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Turkey beards are to f***le.I once put a turkey beard sticking out from under the handle for someone.
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Alright. It was just a thought. I'm sure it's no where near as strong as sinew, I was just thinking of what it would be like if you layered it like sinew with hide glue. Oh, well. Guess I'll keep daydreaming.