Sinew backing

[Tiredtim]

Okay guys, I have just completed my 3rd bow and the only one that I can shoot.  I just backed it with sinew. This is the first time that I have ever attempted this.  MAN, is it ugly!  Are they suppose to look really bad with the backing on it?  I'll get some pictures of it after it dries.  Just looking for some advice from the experts.  Thanks.

[PatM]

It's entirely up to you and your skills to make a sinew backing look good.  Most people tend to hide it under snakeskin etc. but you can make it look very smooth and clean.

[Josh Shuck]

First sinew job I did was the same way.  I didn't spend enough time prepping and refining the sinew to make it look pretty.  Not sure if there is a penalty in performance though.

[JackCrafty]

Yep, wet sinew looks ugly.  It improves as it dries, though.

[Fred Arnold]

My son-in-law asked me what kind of tree one of my bows came from as he'd never seen bark that looked like that before.

[PatM]

Actually does look like bitternut hickory bark, especially with the very outside layer scraped off.

[Tiredtim]

Thanks guys.  Yep Josh, that is exactly what I didn't do either.  Did a little research after the fact and should have spent a lot more time on prepping the stuff. 

[steve b.]

Yup, it can look like a big gooy mess.  After it sets up you can trim the edges and globs.  After it hardens you use a scraper to clean it up more.  Clean it out with a brush, sand it, stain it or paint it, etc. and it will look good.

[gstoneberg]

You can either spend a lot of time applying it to make it look better, or do what I do and cover it with snakeskin.  That also seals it.

George

[Tiredtim]

Do most of you buy your supplies online or do you live in an area that has a shop? 

[osage outlaw]

Cut my own staves, collect sinew from deer, and make glue from the sinew scraps.

[gstoneberg]

I also cut my own osage and have bought hide glue from 3Rivers and traded for some on this forum.  All my sinew came from deer I shot, though I had a friend in Nebraska that had a job running a dredge where he sat idle for hours.  He processed a lot of sinew for me to pass the time.  I sure miss him!

George

[BowEd]

There ai'nt no backing out there that'll do to a piece of wood that sinew will.Put another course on after sanding in your dips and furrows to make er round and smooth and you'll like the results.It may take a bow or two to get what you like but it'll happen.I presoak my sinew before dipping it in the soup and lightly squeeze the glue from it before applying making sure I've got it the way I want it before applying another strand.Take your time.

[PEARL DRUMS]

I believe the more time and care taken to keep it meshed and smooth the better the matrix works. Keep in mind the highest point does the majority of the work. If its an ugly, uneven mess I dont believe the sinew and glue are maximized. 

[PatM]

I posted a thread over at Paleoplanet with tips on achieving a smooth sinew job on the first try.