Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: fishfinder401 on December 08, 2011, 09:26:19 pm

Title: sinew ipe?
Post by: fishfinder401 on December 08, 2011, 09:26:19 pm
i'm starting to realize it might be near impossible to find an 80+ piece of backing worthy hickory, so i was wondering, what if i used sinew instead hickory, and i would do it the right way and use hide glue, even if it takes a long time to dry :'(
also, how many layers of sinew should i put on it? i'm going for a very heavy warbow
thanks
noel
Title: Re: sinew ipe?
Post by: bubby on December 08, 2011, 09:28:04 pm
just splice the hickory or boo in the middle
Title: Re: sinew ipe?
Post by: fishfinder401 on December 08, 2011, 09:36:22 pm
i would, but it will be a bending handle and at 150-175, i don't want to take any chances with a possibly faulty glue up where it is bending
Title: Re: sinew ipe?
Post by: Justin Snyder on December 08, 2011, 10:02:44 pm
I have never done it, but Ill bet if you degrease it you would be fine. You can get plenty of 80" pieces of boo though.
Title: Re: sinew ipe?
Post by: fishfinder401 on December 08, 2011, 10:11:50 pm
I have never done it, but Ill bet if you degrease it you would be fine. You can get plenty of 80" pieces of boo though.
really....... any suggestions on where to look :-\
Title: Re: sinew ipe?
Post by: chessieboy on December 08, 2011, 11:40:44 pm
80" of sinus would probably have a diminishing benefit.  Probably too much mass
Title: Re: sinew ipe?
Post by: PaleoNinja on December 09, 2011, 12:15:57 am
I would not reccomend a sinew backing for a long bow, unless you like slow arrow speed and lots of handshock!!!
Title: Re: sinew ipe?
Post by: Justin Snyder on December 09, 2011, 12:20:16 am
I have never done it, but Ill bet if you degrease it you would be fine. You can get plenty of 80" pieces of boo though.
really....... any suggestions on where to look :-\
You have mail.
Title: Re: sinew ipe?
Post by: fishfinder401 on December 09, 2011, 12:21:16 am
ill try to find that 80 long bamboo Justin mentioned, if i can't find it, what should i do then :-\
thanks
noel
Title: Re: sinew ipe?
Post by: fishfinder401 on December 09, 2011, 12:23:14 am
disregard that last comment, thanks Justin, i think you just answered my prayers, so how would i prep one of those?
Title: Re: sinew ipe?
Post by: mikekeswick on December 09, 2011, 10:04:27 am
A well spliced joint is as good as one piece of wood. In fact it can be stronger. A perfect splice isn't hard to do - it's just practise. Bendy handles no problem...honest.
Title: Re: sinew ipe?
Post by: Parnell on December 09, 2011, 10:08:45 am
I've backed a couple ipe longbows with hard maple and they've done just as well as the hickory backed, maybe better.
Gotta go with boo though if you can.
Title: Re: sinew ipe?
Post by: Justin Snyder on December 09, 2011, 11:11:49 am
so how would i prep one of those?
Search thinning bamboo or flattening bamboo. Here are a couple of threads to get you started.
I will warn you, Badger's method is effective, but not easy. Also, order a couple of bamboo slats, they are extra shipping because of the length so it is cost effective to get a dozen at a time.

http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,21800.msg296508.html#msg296508
http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,5127.msg70875.html#msg70875
Title: Re: sinew ipe?
Post by: Marc St Louis on December 09, 2011, 11:25:03 am
Honestly I have no idea why you would want to build an 80" long IPE warbow anyway.  That is overkill to the extreme, unless you want this bow to draw 40+ inches.
Title: Re: sinew ipe?
Post by: Matt S. on December 09, 2011, 11:41:01 am
Noel, do you have a table saw, band saw, or planer? If so you can make your own hickory backing strips. I know from another thread of yours that you have a woodcraft nearby. I know at the woodcraft I shop at, they have hickory and white oak (as well as many other species) in large boards. I'm willing to bet they'll eventually have a straight grained board long enough to use, plus you'll be able to get many backers out of it!
Title: Re: sinew ipe?
Post by: fishfinder401 on December 09, 2011, 06:20:56 pm
Honestly I have no idea why you would want to build an 80" long IPE warbow anyway.  That is overkill to the extreme, unless you want this bow to draw 40+ inches.
i know that its not necesary, but i draw 32-34 and i also like the lower string angel and how it draws with heavy weights

MattS i do have a table saw, i have checked my woodcraft and they only had 1 hickory board but it wasn't suitable  grain, ill check the white oak though, either way i thin i will try some bamboo, i have enough ipe for 2-3 bows ;D and a good supplier of it nearby
thanks for the advice everyone
noel
Title: Re: sinew ipe?
Post by: fishfinder401 on December 10, 2011, 01:23:28 pm
actually, would the white oak hold up to a very heavy ipe bow, i have allot of white oak in my area that i was actually going to try to get someone to let me harvest, and i might be  able to find one long enough to back with with one growth ring
thanks
noel