The Adventures of Stinky Rawhide: Deerskin Soup, Part 2...All Dried Up

[JackCrafty]

Here are some pics of the finished product....the result of all that work....the pay-off.









And the bane of deer parts....the eater of dreams....the evil menace....


 

[Justin Snyder]

Looks like you did a good job. 
I found the solution to your nemesis.

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[JackCrafty]

   Yep, I would do it.....but I'm afraid it might cause a chain reaction and unleash hell.....

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[El Destructo]

Patrick....did you cut all that lacing by Hand....or do ya have a cutter?? I don't have the patience to do it with scissors thats for sure!!

[JackCrafty]

Bandsaw.....it's the only way to travel.

[El Destructo]

Nice.........would have never thought of that....and I have one 15 foot from me right now....and two Hides waiting to be cut up!!

[JackCrafty]

I made a bowstring out of one of the 3/16" wide strips.  I was carefull to choose one that was very consistant in width and thickness....and cut from the center of the hide lengthwise (the back of the deer).  It seems to be holding up well on my 45# bow after about 20 shots....no signs of stretching or breaking.  I'll shoot it about 20 times a day this week (if I can remember) and keep track of the wear.  This string is a LOT stiffer than my sinew strings and feels "crisp".  Maybe it vibrates less than the sinew.....I dunno yet.

[armymedic.2]

oh way cool.  did you just twist the rawhide strip so it was round, or does that strengthen it too?  one strand right?

[JackCrafty]

Medic, yeah one strand, and I twisted it (so it would be round) when I hung it up to dry with a weight on the bottom.  The string is REALLY stiff and I had to dampen the rawhide to get the loop to fit the shape of the bow nock.