Author Topic: bear fat or lard?  (Read 4064 times)

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Offline TimothyR

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bear fat or lard?
« on: April 05, 2014, 02:53:35 pm »
Will store bought lard work like bear fat at waterproofing bows?
Freedom dies one compromise at a time. III%

Offline Wiley

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Re: bear fat or lard?
« Reply #1 on: April 05, 2014, 03:04:04 pm »
Pig fat, bear fat, the wood won't know the difference. The only difference is how primitive it is, pigs are not a native species and bear are. At least this is how I understand it.
« Last Edit: April 05, 2014, 03:07:11 pm by Wiley »

Offline Pat B

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Re: bear fat or lard?
« Reply #2 on: April 05, 2014, 05:08:34 pm »
Yes, lard should work just fine. Pig, deer, cow, moose, bison, all have useful fat but bear fat was always considered the best by most and it was used for everything from dressing leather and wood to making great biscuits and other edibles. .  ;)  I'm gonna use only hand rubbed bear fat on the osage Eastern Woodland bow I'm building now.
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline Bogaman

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Re: bear fat or lard?
« Reply #3 on: April 05, 2014, 06:04:15 pm »
Pigs are more primitive than chain saws, belt sanders, band saws and drawknives. Yes, pig fat will work just fine;^)

Offline George Tsoukalas

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Re: bear fat or lard?
« Reply #4 on: April 05, 2014, 06:21:28 pm »
Yes, I even used bacon grease in the past. Just don't hunt in bear country. :) Jawge
Set Happens!
If you ain't breakin' you ain't makin!

Offline kleinpm

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Re: bear fat or lard?
« Reply #5 on: April 05, 2014, 07:24:18 pm »
I have been experimenting with beef suet on bows. The only thing I dislike is that it never seems to really "cure" like other finishes. The suet seems to attract dirt which is hard to just wipe off. Water beads up and doesn't penetrate the wood, which is good.

Maybe I am doing something wrong. I wish I could figure it out because I sort of feel like I am cheating using modern finishes on some of my more primitive bows, but try-oil leaves such a nice, easy to maintain finish.

Patrick

Offline Pat B

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Re: bear fat or lard?
« Reply #6 on: April 05, 2014, 07:28:05 pm »
Patrick, I hand rub it in with enough vigor to build up some heat. This helps it sink in a little then I wipe the excess off with a dry rag. You can pre-heat the wood first to help it sink in a little.
« Last Edit: April 06, 2014, 01:18:11 am by Pat B »
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline JW_Halverson

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Re: bear fat or lard?
« Reply #7 on: April 05, 2014, 08:12:51 pm »
Pigs are more primitive than chain saws, belt sanders, band saws and drawknives. Yes, pig fat will work just fine;^)

Bogaman scores a point with that one!  LOL!
Guns have triggers. Bicycles have wheels. Trees and bows have wooden limbs.

Offline PatM

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Re: bear fat or lard?
« Reply #8 on: April 05, 2014, 10:03:45 pm »
If you are using Crisco you are probably using plant oil that has been hydrogenated to make it appear to be animal fat.

Offline TimothyR

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Re: bear fat or lard?
« Reply #9 on: April 05, 2014, 11:24:26 pm »
If you are using Crisco you are probably using plant oil that has been hydrogenated to make it appear to be animal fat.

I've used Crisco to steam bend. Im working on an Ash backed Ipe bow and I wanted to use a more natural Finnish.  I've got some butcher block oil thought about that and the lard mixed with beeswax. Hopefully thats natural enough. :D
Freedom dies one compromise at a time. III%

Offline George Tsoukalas

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Re: bear fat or lard?
« Reply #10 on: April 05, 2014, 11:38:39 pm »
I heat it in with a hair dryer. Jawge
Set Happens!
If you ain't breakin' you ain't makin!

Offline bubbles

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Re: bear fat or lard?
« Reply #11 on: April 06, 2014, 08:48:37 pm »
Bacon grease might be good to use if you're hunting bear.  :)