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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: KenH on May 14, 2015, 11:19:00 PM

Title: Flax backing
Post by: KenH on May 14, 2015, 11:19:00 PM

Anyone ever flax back a recurve?  Not linen, flax strands from a strick, treated the same way you would sinew to back a bow, and for the same reasons.  I've read numerous mentions of the success of the technique applied to straight bows, but haven't seen anything with a recurve.  

I have an Akkadian 'gull-wing' bow that I've glued up from four wood laminations, similar to the one shown below, and would like to try backing it for added draw-weight.
   (http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b282/kenhulme/Akkadian_zpsd0e13781.jpg)

Title: Re: Flax backing
Post by: Wolftrail on May 14, 2015, 11:44:00 PM

That bow has some wicked bends hopefully she will hold together backing or not. Never gone down that street yet.

Title: Re: Flax backing
Post by: Krasus on May 15, 2015, 10:27:00 AM

Beautiful curves!

Title: Re: Flax backing
Post by: macbow on May 15, 2015, 11:48:00 AM

Didn't use it on recurve but on R/D longbow.
Did not care for it. Would much rather use sinew.

This was the raw flax. Didn't see much benefit.

Title: Re: Flax backing
Post by: inksoup on May 17, 2015, 07:33:00 AM

well generally, those type of materials works good on backing.

never tried with flax, but i have tried with hemp fabric and hemp strands. they worked well.