Trad Gang
Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: BEN on May 01, 2009, 04:28:00 PM
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I posted a week or so ago about my first attempt at a bamboo backed bow raising a large splinter on the back. A couple guys suggested wrapping it with sinew to possibly fix it.
My question is: Do I need real sinew? Does artificial sinew work the same way or is it mainly for tying/wrapping? :help:
I'm not concerned with the additional "character" whis will give its appearance, just willing to try it. Your help will be appreciated. :campfire:
By the way, my second attempt is in the works also: it is going to be a hickory self-bow--for my wife. She doesn't want to wait for me to get one right for myself first-----very trusting she is! :biglaugh:
Ben
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Artificial sinew stretch very much. And the artifical sinew i have tried, is waxed and is not good at all. If i was you, i will tried linentread, and glued it afterwards.
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You need real sinew. If you are having a hard time locating it try Mosow Hide and Fur, or Three Rivers.
Dan
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Real sinew is magic, it will keep a splinter from lifting when nothing else will. Also when applied with hide glue or knox gellitine it shrinks and becomes even stronger.
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Will TiteBond III work as well? I was hoping for a waterproof way of glueing.
Thanks guys
ben
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Can you show a picture? Jawge
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(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v336/bgeckle/100_0938.jpg)Damaged section
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v336/bgeckle/100_0930.jpg) whole bow
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That looks like a belly splinter in the picture. Is the boo splintered or is the belly wood splintered?
Artificial sinew is good for stitching up quivers and such. but not much else.
I wrap problem areas with nylon serving and 2-ton epoxy. For a large spilnter like that, I'd glue it down with TBIII and then do nylon serving wraps on the the ends.
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That's not good. It's running off the bow. Wrap it with the real stuff set in hide glue or artificial sine, nylon thread set in Duco. Jawge
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It's a splinter in the bamboo on the lower limb.
I'm gonna try gluing the splinter down and then wrap it with the real sinew soaked in glue as soon as I get some.
If it doesn't work.....Oh well, at least I tried! :knothead: If it does----then my first bow is a shooter :bigsmyl:
Thanks guys for your help!
ben
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Gotta try, that's how we learn.
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I have used artificial sinew set in super glue with good results. The wax doesn't seem to affect it. Real sinew, silk thread or other strong threads would probably be a better choice. I think I would put a wrap at the beginning and end of the splinter. You could add similar wraps to the other limb for symmetry.
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Thanks Pat...... I found some leg sinew and just got to pound it out. I was thinking of at least putting identical wraps on the other limb to balance out the looks.
When using sinew, how seperated does it need to be? just coursely pounded, or all the way down to individual fibers? My plan of thought is this: glue down the splinter; lay coursely pounded sinew, soaked in titebond II or hide glue, over the entire section of damaged limb; wrap with artificial sinew to help hold it down.
thanks
Ben
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You don't need individual fibers just about a 32nd in diameter. I don't think you'll need to wrap it again with the artificial. I'd soak the sinew in warm water before applying any glue.
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I prefer to chew the sinew first then wrap. Your saliva and the sinew makes it's own glue. After it is dry, seal it with super glue, Duco or TBIII. If you don't like the idea of chewing the sinew, do as Dano suggests and soak in warm water.
For the amount of sinew, about about half the size of a pencil lead or a bit less.
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It really doesn't take much sinew to wrap an area. I shred mine like thread diameter and wrap one layer thick on minor cracks. Your's isn't so minor but you shouldn't need to build it up thick either.
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You guys are great! Ireally appreciate your help. I'll let you know how this turns out and post pics if it works.
thank you
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Ben,
Here is a link to one I fixed with sinew, Urac 185, and super glue:
http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=050866
To quote Rusty "Sinew is magic".
Oh ya, for the doubters, the last I heard that bow is still shooting.
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AMAZING!!!!
I'm definitely gonna try this now!
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Well, now it's toast!!
I glued the splinter down with Titebond II, let dry. Wrapped entire area with backstrap sinew soaked in warm water, extending about 1" above and below the splintered section, let dry. Covered area in Titebond II, let dry.
Shot it 4 times--so far so good; but then, while pulling it back to check tiller (only to 28") there was a small crack. Then a 2nd,. and 3rd time---we couldnt' see any thing so we thought maybe teh glue was cracking. So, i pulled it back 1 more time and CRACK!! the lower limb broke completely in half, right at the point of the splinter where it was the deepest!!
The sinew held! But the bamboo and osaage completely broke clean off .
Oh well---kinda disappointing but, at least I tried it. Hopefully my wife's bow turns out better! It is almost done.
ben
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AHHH! bow building, it builds character, patience, and what was the other thing. :bigsmyl:
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...the urge to kill! d;^)
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Yeah......the urge to break something!!.............Oh, wait----it DID!!
:smileystooges: :knothead:
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Keep buildin em Ben :thumbsup:
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Working on my wife's right now. going to glue on the snakeskin tomorrow and hope to start layering on the Tru-oil by first -middle of next week.
Ben