« previous next »
Pages: [1]

Author Topic: More sinew questions  (Read 3128 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Don Case

  • Guest
More sinew questions
« on: April 05, 2014, 11:05:26 pm »
When I was at the butchers asking about sinew he said someone else had ordered some and never picked it up. He found it in the dog chew barrel. I happily bought it. It wasn't trimmed that well but beggars can't be choosers. I trimmed of all the fat I could see and started pounding. Spots of it got oily as I was pounding. I don't suppose this is a good thing but is it a disaster? When it's stripped out it feels nice and fluffy but will the glue stick to it? I did wash the tendons in dish soap after I trimmed them.
Don
Logged

Offline PatM

  • Member
  • Posts: 6,737
Re: More sinew questions
« Reply #1 on: April 05, 2014, 11:46:17 pm »
The problem is when the fat goes rancid and the breakdown starts to damage the actual collagen fibers as well. Just wash it multiple times and maybe even give it a final acetone rinse and then test the fiber strength.
Logged

Offline Pat B

  • Administrator
  • Member
  • Posts: 37,633
Re: More sinew questions
« Reply #2 on: April 06, 2014, 01:17:24 am »
Wash the sinew strands in Dawn dish soap and warm water. Dawn is a great grease cutter.
Logged
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline lebhuntfish

  • Member
  • Posts: 3,823
  • If the wood will bend, I'll make it beautiful!
Re: More sinew questions
« Reply #3 on: April 06, 2014, 02:10:32 am »
I had the same problem, I did the dawn dish soap thing like Pat B said. It worked good! Sinew was really nice when processed.
Logged
Once an Eagle Scout, always an Eagle Scout!

Missouri, where all the best wood is! Well maybe not the straightest!

Building a bow has been the most rewarding, peaceful, and frustrating things I have ever made with my own two hands!

Offline Bryce

  • Global Moderator
  • Member
  • Posts: 3,125
  • Pacific Ghost Longbows
Re: More sinew questions
« Reply #4 on: April 06, 2014, 02:30:53 am »
I like to scrape em and then throw them in the smoker (with no chips of course)
Easy way to quick cure the sinew.
Logged
Clatskanie, Oregon

Don Case

  • Guest
Re: More sinew questions
« Reply #5 on: April 06, 2014, 01:09:28 pm »
Quote from: Pat B on April 06, 2014, 01:17:24 am
Wash the sinew strands in Dawn dish soap and warm water. Dawn is a great grease cutter.

Is there a washing technique? I can imagine ending up with a tangled up ball of sinew. You don't wash them one strand at a time do you?  :-\ :-\
Logged

Offline Pat B

  • Administrator
  • Member
  • Posts: 37,633
Re: More sinew questions
« Reply #6 on: April 06, 2014, 01:18:55 pm »
Don, in my experience if you don' try to do too much at one time even the tangles will come out in a pan of water. I usually soak the sinew in warm water and take a small bundle out wash it with Dawn, rince it good and set I aside for the sinewing then move to the next bundle.
Logged
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Don Case

  • Guest
Re: More sinew questions
« Reply #7 on: April 06, 2014, 01:28:23 pm »
I knew there was something else I wanted to ask. :P  Is it OK to store the "greasy" sinew and then wash it just before use. I will probably freeze it.
Logged

Offline Pat B

  • Administrator
  • Member
  • Posts: 37,633
Re: More sinew questions
« Reply #8 on: April 06, 2014, 03:25:42 pm »
The grease will become rancid over time. I'd do an initial cleaning now and again just before laying it down.
Logged
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Don Case

  • Guest
Re: More sinew questions
« Reply #9 on: April 06, 2014, 09:55:49 pm »
After I washed it and dried it, it glued itself together and I had to strip it all over again. With another 25% loss due to breakage. Even the stuff that did come apart is now wirery and stiff. This was a total bust. I'll probably use it all for glue. I guess the idea is to start with clean tendons. The butcher had already dried it with all the fatty bits still attached.
Logged

Offline PatM

  • Member
  • Posts: 6,737
Re: More sinew questions
« Reply #10 on: April 06, 2014, 10:27:21 pm »
Just soak it again. You don't have to pull it apart when it is stuck to itself. You need to soak it before you apply it anyway.
Logged

Offline bow101

  • Member
  • Posts: 2,235
Re: More sinew questions
« Reply #11 on: April 06, 2014, 11:37:16 pm »
Rather than make a new topic about sinew, thought maybe ok to highjack this thread for a moment. ::)
Do you add sinew to increase draw weight.?  It allways seems to be quite thick when applying it.  Or is the sinew there for peace of mind .?  And the snakeskin is it mainly for esthetics or peace of mind as well to prevent a splinter lift..?
Logged
"The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are."  Joseph Campbell

Offline PatM

  • Member
  • Posts: 6,737
Re: More sinew questions
« Reply #12 on: April 06, 2014, 11:49:59 pm »
Sinew will work any way you want it to depending on thickness and induced reflex or whether you just draw the bow further.
Logged

Don Case

  • Guest
Re: More sinew questions
« Reply #13 on: April 07, 2014, 12:01:06 am »
Quote from: PatM on April 06, 2014, 10:27:21 pm
Just soak it again. You don't have to pull it apart when it is stuck to itself. You need to soak it before you apply it anyway.

Of course  :P Thanks. It will probably be easier to store. I can stand it in a jar like jerky.
Logged
Pages: [1]
« previous next »