Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: MoNative on February 15, 2012, 01:00:23 pm
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Okay, I am building a plains indians style horse bow out of hickory, and I just wondered if placing sinew on the back will be a have to? Anyone have any answers for me? :D
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Sorry but don't understand your question. Hickory works fine with a sinew backing as long as you live in a dry climate.
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I'm from Missouri.
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I have never built a horse bow and probably never will. My thoughts rae that horse bows are generally very short and work very hard, that tells my bow mind that it needs sinew to perform and hold strong.
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The only problem is, I have no way to get sinew. :P
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Sure you do. Its all over the internet cheap.
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The only problem is, I have no way to get sinew. :P
There is ALWAYS a way. buy of net, trade with the fine folks here. Check game processing places during hunting season. Lots of ways.
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I may buy some from Kustom King pre processed. But will sinew be okay for Missouri and year around hunting here? :-\
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Seal it well.
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<snip>But will sinew be okay for Missouri and year around hunting here? :-\
Yes it will be fine here. I'm in SPFD. Sinew backed Osage or Hickory do awesome here. Now on a morning like this morning is, you'll want to keep your bow covered and out of the weather when possible, ...and you'll have to expect to loose a few pounds of draw weight on soggy days, ...but that is the case anywhere you might go with a sinew backed bow of any sort.
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Okay guys, like I said, I will buy some already processed sinew, so could someone give me the whole rundown for what needs to be done after I get the sinew. And does it matter that I have already shaped the stave?
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If you can wait a few days, Gordon is doing a build-a-long of a sinew backed yew bow. A bit different from what you are trying to build, but I have a feeling the pictures and techniques will be pretty useful to you.
Also use the search bar at the top of the PA screen. Search for sinew, there's lots of good examples and build-a-longs around here.
http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,30667.0.html
gabe
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So I can sinew it after I have formed it to the shape of a horse bow?
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Your question is comparable to asking how to build a car. Do as Gabe suggested. Start reading, searching and learning.
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How do I build a car, Pearl? It has to get 100 mpg, run on biofuels, crude oil, and whale oil, and impress women more than a Ferarri or a Porche. Plus, only cost 50 bucks. :)
MoNative, there are tons of resources, and the folks here will help you as much as they can, but you have to start somewhere, and gaining knowledge is the first step. Paleoplanet is also a great web resource, as are the four TBB. You can probably check thos out of your library if you dont want to invest in them first.
Dane
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A quick run down of sinewing.
1 - First sort your sinew 60 - 100 grammes) into same weight bundles of maybe 30 fibers each and few with less.
2 - Get a smooth flat board and metal comb and soak your sinew bundles in warm water until they become really soft.
3 - Coat the back of your bow with fairly thin glue mixture. Allow to dry and repeat.
4 - Make up some thicker glue - but not too thick or else your finished bow will creak when drawn...
5 - Remove bundles from water and squeeze out excess water between your fingers.
6 - Comb out any twist/crossed fibers until the bundles are strips of parallel fibers.
7 - Soak in the glue and make sure the glue is well worked in and then squeeze out any excess.
8 - Place on your bow like bricks in a wall. Making the center higher than the edges. Crowned.
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Just Heated, and shaped this morning, now for the 2 weeks of drying. Probably be done all done by March, we'll see. :-\
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Like the guys said when i go to the processor to drop off a deer I grab all the legs they cut off and cut the tendons out while im there alot of people look at you funny and ask alot of questions but its free and you can have them save you the back strap tendon they just throw it away
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Alright, so really and trully, is sinew going to be a 100% have to on my bow, or will it be fine without? I am on a pretty fixed budget, and I don't really want to go through the extra money or hassle. But, if it is needed, I will do what I must.
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DEFINATELY a MUST!! horse bows are short and under a LOT of stress! I am in the process of making both an Asian style, and Native American style horse bow right now. YOU HAVE TO SINEW BACK!
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Alright, will do.
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Agreed, ...sinew is a must for as short a bow as a horse bow is if you want any effective draw weight out of it.
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you know it all depends on what your bow length to draw length and weight intentions are whether or not you need sinew. you never stated what dimensions you are attempting.
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The bow is 52" and I am shooting for 40# or more.
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@ around 27" or 28" draw
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I never make anything over 48", simply because I hunt very wooded and brushy areas, and I don't use a tree stand, but I'de still say that sinew backing a 52"bow is a really good idea.
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Where are you guys getting these "rules" from? Quite a few Native horse bows were short and unbacked.
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8) I build a few Horse bows and unless it has a spot im concerned about i wont sinew them. My usual Horse bow is in the 50'' to 54'' draw is usualy in the 24 to 26'' range. Weights very usualy somewhere between 45 and 65 lbs. and being that your bow is Hic. and Hic is very forgiving I prolly wouldnt back it. JMO >:D
Katt
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Reeeaaaally confused as to what to do guys!!! :o
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Read-read-read-study-study-study. As you can see there are a million ways to do one thing, and all of them work to add confusion to a confusing build to start with. Wade through it all and make your best decision then. Nobody can tell you what to build or how to build it. They can give their opinions only.
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No two people on here do everything or will agree the same on all topics. I think it has been like that since the first bows were made!!!!!
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A 52" stiff-handled and recurved wood bow without backing will have a high probability of breaking if drawn to 28".
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A 52" stiff-handled and recurved wood bow without backing will have a high probability of breaking if drawn to 28".
And yet in the TBB there's a photo of a 48" hickory recurve stiff handled unbacked pulling 28". :o. ...but gordon is correct in saying "high probability of breaking".
See...now your really confused ...I just built a 50.5" selfbow that I know could be pulled to 28" easy...I wood just incur a lil more set. Research,read,research,read...repeat
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I was thinking, would just glueing rawhide on the back work???
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I would use sinew and rawhide.
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Sinew and rawhide would be my choice as well. You don't want to put all that effort into a short bow just to have it break because you didn't sinew back it. Check out the bow making video by Ed Scott on you-tube, you'll find lots of info on there.
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Rawhide alone won't cut it then??
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No