Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: TurtleCreek on November 12, 2011, 04:22:56 pm

Title: Rawhide thickness?
Post by: TurtleCreek on November 12, 2011, 04:22:56 pm

  I have a good supply of rawhide now and noticed that some strips are thicker than others.  What's an ideal thickness for rawhide?

Title: Re: Rawhide thickness?
Post by: Gordon on November 12, 2011, 04:51:10 pm

For backing, you want your rawhide as thin as possible. Not much more than the thickness of a sheet of heavy duty paper.

Title: Re: Rawhide thickness?
Post by: TurtleCreek on November 12, 2011, 05:00:25 pm

Thanks Gordon.  That's about the thickness of all of it.  I do have some that is noticeably thicker that I was thinking of tanning to use as handle wraps.

Title: Re: Rawhide thickness?
Post by: adb on November 12, 2011, 05:18:52 pm

Rawhide is almost as hard as wood when it dries, so you can always sand it down after you glue it on. I've used deer rawhide (which I think is the best), but I've also used cow rawhide (which is much thicker), and sanded it down later. A bit more work, but no problems.