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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: White hair on March 28, 2015, 07:18:00 PM

Title: natural fibers for bow strings
Post by: White hair on March 28, 2015, 07:18:00 PM

Does anyone know of a good source for natural plant fiber for bow strings ? I know collect outside. Not enough green yet.   :)

Title: Re: natural fibers for bow strings
Post by: Pat B on March 28, 2015, 09:25:00 PM

Dogbain, hemp, linen(flax).
Other natural materials include sinew, gut and squirrel and groundhog rawhide.

Title: Re: natural fibers for bow strings
Post by: White hair on March 29, 2015, 08:30:00 AM

I know where I can get gut and hemp string. I forgot about squieerl and ground hog. I have a raw groundhog hide how. I have heard you leave the hair on , right ?

Title: Re: natural fibers for bow strings
Post by: halfseminole on March 29, 2015, 09:16:00 AM

Yucca works well and is always green.

Title: Re: natural fibers for bow strings
Post by: White hair on March 29, 2015, 01:40:00 PM

If I seem to bit dumb here forgive my ignorance.
I have things on my list I want to learn and put to practice as I use my bows. Not just to hunt, but to pass on to the young ones. I feel the older I get (61) the closer I want to get to my creator. Artifical isn't cutting it.
 I taught a man years ago to make cordage with yucca. By the time our camping trip was over, he had made himself a hat band.

Title: Re: natural fibers for bow strings
Post by: Bowjunkie on March 29, 2015, 04:19:00 PM

You can leave it on or take it off.

Title: Re: natural fibers for bow strings
Post by: snakewood3 on March 29, 2015, 07:12:00 PM

I have had very good success with groundhog rawhide.

Title: Re: natural fibers for bow strings
Post by: White hair on March 29, 2015, 09:52:00 PM

If you do not mind, how wide do you cut it and 2 or more ply. Just by guess I thought 1/4 wide and 2 ply. I really want to learn all I can. Thank you all.

Title: Re: natural fibers for bow strings
Post by: mikkekeswick on March 30, 2015, 12:48:00 AM

Buy Vol 2 of the Traditional Bowyers Bible series.
There is just too much to write about bowstrings in one post on here.
To answer your last question. 3 ply is the best way to go for a simple string and width of strips is something you'll have to determine by trial and error but you are in the ball park.

Title: Re: natural fibers for bow strings
Post by: White hair on March 30, 2015, 03:11:00 PM

I'll get the book and start on this hide. It's a big one 33" long. I want to use part of it for a bag. Brain tan the upper part and head.

Title: Re: natural fibers for bow strings
Post by: Sam Harper on March 30, 2015, 07:30:00 PM

I made one out of Yucca.  I don't know how strong it is, though.

 (http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c361/wasichu/photo-3_zps45e58e36.jpg)

Title: Re: natural fibers for bow strings
Post by: halfseminole on March 31, 2015, 02:42:00 PM

I think I'm going to silk for all mine going forward.  Works best with horn bows.