Author Topic: how is elk leg sinew to work with?  (Read 2195 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline paulsemp

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,918
how is elk leg sinew to work with?
« on: January 24, 2012, 05:00:40 pm »
all the sinew backed bows i have made have been with deer leg sinew (it is cheap). but i find hard to work with. a lot of pounding for very little. work with buffalo once and i loved it, but hard to come by. i know plenty of you have work with elk leg, how is it to work with?

Offline toomanyknots

  • Member
  • Posts: 3,132
Re: how is elk leg sinew to work with?
« Reply #1 on: January 24, 2012, 05:17:08 pm »
Cow sinew is easier to come by than deer and it gives you alot more sinew. Like, the hard parts that are stuck to the outside that just don't pound out are alot less with cow, and there is more inside sinew, if you know what I mean. If you can find a good butcher that will do it for you, or at least the backstrap, you can sometimes get fresh stuff for cheap.
"The way of heaven is like the bending of a bow-
 the upper part is pressed down,
 the lower part is raised up,
 the part that has too much is reduced,
 the part that has too little is increased."

- Tao Te Ching, 77, A new translation by Victor H. Mair

Offline JackCrafty

  • Global Moderator
  • Member
  • Posts: 5,628
  • Sorry Officer, I was just gathering "materials".
Re: how is elk leg sinew to work with?
« Reply #2 on: January 25, 2012, 02:28:52 pm »
I've used a lot of elk sinew and I like it.  But it's not easier to work with.  Elk leg tendons are just big deer tendons, IMO.  The sinew is a bit tougher, though.  I use it (elk) for bowstrings.
Any critter tastes good with enough butter on it.

Patrick Blank
Midland, Texas
Youtube: JackCrafty, Allergic Hobbit, Patrick Blank

Where's Rock? Public Waterways, Road Cuts, Landscape Supply, Knap-Ins.
How to Cook It?  200° for 24hrs then 275° to 500° for 4hrs (depending on type), Cool for 12hr

Offline Eric Garza

  • Member
  • Posts: 589
Re: how is elk leg sinew to work with?
« Reply #3 on: January 25, 2012, 04:58:51 pm »
I don't bother with leg. I use back. Sooooo much easier to work with, regardless of what species you get it from.

Offline paulsemp

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,918
Re: how is elk leg sinew to work with?
« Reply #4 on: January 25, 2012, 05:03:51 pm »
i know eric, it's just a lot more money