Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: bushman on November 06, 2009, 12:39:36 am
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I have read a few post that said people have used ether hemp cloth and hemp thread to back a bow. I can’t remember what post it was where I read them now though. I was wondering what type of hemp cloth was used? Only hemp cloth I now of is Burlap. Has anyone ever tried to use hemp baler twine to back a bow? It is farley strong, well its got to be cuase it works just fine for 80 pound to 100 hay bales.
Bushman
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I bought some hemp canvas once that was fairly coarse, but tight weave. And very strong, I have used it alot and it is great. I have seen tension breaks happen under it and the hemp canvas did not tear. Hemp baler twine would probably work too. I've never seen it, and though it is probably plenty strong, the only danger is that you put too much on and add unnecessary weight. I have backed bows with hemp string, were I glue on string one by one, until the back is covered. I used cheap white school glue, and then when dried I soak the string with 2 or 3 coats of shellac to water proof.
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Burlap is made from jute. Hemp is hemp. I've never backed a bow with hemp cord. Jawge
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I have. There is a fabric available now sold as hemp summer cloth. Used to make light wieght clothing. It is sold by the yard on ebay. Weight is 5.5 oz per yard (raw silk cloth is 4.5 oz per yard). A little pricey. $20 for a piece 36x58".
Dave
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You could try flax I got some from one of the guys at the Twin Oaks classic, looks kinda cool .
I"ve been tring to source more but but not to many spiners here in Cincinnati.
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BTW hemp will make a good backing according to the TBB's. Jawge
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Saw some hemp cord at Hobby Lobby.
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I have not use hemp for backing but I do use hemp cord for handle wraps. It is very strong so I would guess that it would work as a backing if you lay it length ways side by side over the bows back. One thing to think about, because it is very strong and doesn't stretch much it may overpower a bow made of weaker wood or if put on too thickly.
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I have made a couple of bows that were backed with hemp twine (bailing twine) will send you some photos if you'd like...one was a 45# 50" Modoc style with a rigid handle. The bow turns out like it is backed with tree bark, it's tough, unique and works really good to back short types of native bows. It also works very well for grip wrapping...either by itself or underneath a leather grip.
half eye
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got your email and answered that....cant change the bow photos (read-only) to a foremat small enough to post here, but the bow pic I did post IS backed with hemp twine (running the length of the limb). but if you ever want to try bark you may want to try elm (inner) bark, dry it and split it just like sinew (see photo) it looks just like dried sinew and it's bout as tough....except it will turn out the color of elm wood, if you glued it on with tite-bond covered with a good oil finish or lacquer....ought to be tough as nails.
half eye
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Half-eye,
.cant change the bow photos (read-only) to a foremat small enough to post here
Why not right click on the file got to properties, got to attributes at the bottom of the page and change if from read by clearing the box, for windows systems only.
Then you can edit it to your hearts content, I would make a copy and edit that.
Craig.
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CMB,
Thank you for the tip, the old guy's greatfull
half eye
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CMB,
Thanks for the tip....a little different on my system but got it done. Here are the pics of the hemp backed bow and one more of dried split elm bark (inner) I used this stuff once and when the titebond was thuroughly dry it held that induced reflex really well and took the bow from 35# to 45#. I haven't made any more but that is my experience with this stuff. I believe its really tough because the elm grain is all intertangled and has very little stretch....the hemp backing does have more give but still adds to the performance.
half eye
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Half-eye,
Very nice, thanks for sharing.
Craig.
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Half-eye, I really like painted bows; I bad there where both painted and unpainted since the days of the Holmegaard till today.
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bushman,
I backed the bow with the exact string you see on the handle. I have a really esy way for you to that and will post it up this afternoon....this morning is shot with mother-in-law honey do's. As far as the hemp handle...what I do is start the wrap with one or two wraps, then put a thick coat of titebond for about 2" and wrap the twine in real tight right on top of the glue...repeat till your 4 wraps short of the end of the grip and lay down a string loop, and finish the wrap. Cut off the hemp string and put the end through the loop and pull it under the last 4 wraps and trim the tag end. Let dry for a day, then go back and coat the outside of the wrap with a good heavy coat of titebond and work that in (I use my fingers cause I got no class) well, let it dry for a day or two. any "lifted hair ends can be readily trimmed with scissors. The hemp will absorb most all the glue and will seem to be really sealed up, but it will accept stain (rubbed in oil-based) and that's when it gets that "barky" look....course you may not want that on the grip.
Got to run....them honey do's is callin. (Don't ya think a guy my age would have run out of them by now?)
half eye
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Here's a couple hemp backed bows. The first one is cord backed red oak. #40 @29 in.
(http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g124/rossfactor/redoak2.jpg)
(http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g124/rossfactor/redoak5.jpg)
This one is backed with hemp-silk, a blended fabric. Hemp fabric comes in a huge array of styles and can be very fine and soft. This bow is Jatoba, 68in D bow. #44 @30 inches
(http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g124/rossfactor/backartfull.jpg)
(http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g124/rossfactor/backartpainting.jpg)
(http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g124/rossfactor/fulldraw.jpg)
Gabe
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Half eye that’s a nice lookin bow you got there, what type of wood is it made from?
Rossfactor you got some nice bows there too. Where did you find that hemp-silk fabric and how much was it?
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Bushman,
The bow was made from fully quartersawn ash (white ash). It was an experiment, I made it as close to 35# @ 28 as I could then I backed it with hemp twine to see what the effect would be. I did not induce any reflex (you could if so desired). The bow jumped to 45# (44.?) and had about 1/2 the expected limb set. I take a flat scrap board (1&1/2 the length of the bow) cover it with wax paper and tie a knot in the twine. Staple that knot about 6" longer than the bow and run the twine down to the other end (6"longer) and staple that down. Now just go back and forth with the strings touching each other (staple both ends of each one) until you have the width of the limb plus a little more (about one to two strands). Coat the whole thing with titebond (fairly heavy) and let it soak in and dry throughly. Once it's dry simply cut the twine loose from the staples and you have your twine backing ready to go, and the glued surface will be seized for gluing to the bows back. After you glue the backing to the bow and it's dry, trim to shape. That leaves an uncoated surface for you to first stain and then glue with another coat of titebond...finish anyway you wish....
Medicinewheel, As far as I can tell the Vikings, Franks, and Normans all decorated their bows with paint, carvings, and metal as well, with copper and silver being the favorites. This would be especially true for their combat weapons, it suited there individuality and "in your face" style of fighting.
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Got it at a fabric store in the town I live. it was something like $6 for 1/3 yard, which would back maybe 4 bows. (with two strips per bow overlapped at the handle).
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Hemp Cloth on eBay works great...it is true Hemp...made from Male Plants... :(....but it is as tough as Nails....Jute is Jute...whether it be Twine or Burlap...it's no where near as Strong as Hemp is