Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: DuBois on August 10, 2012, 05:08:30 pm

Title: Sisal backing
Post by: DuBois on August 10, 2012, 05:08:30 pm
I am preping some of this hay bail twine which is made from sisal fibers. It was free!
Anybody ever back a bow with it. It seems strong and I am planning to back a hard maple bow about 62" NTN.
I am thinking I will treat this like sinew and pattern it like sinew on the back (I don't really have sinew experience though)
 I am fairly new at bow making but can't stop now.
This is my first post and you all have been invaluable in my short bowyer life so far. I am not computer savy but will try to put pics on if I get that far.
Thanks again to you all!!
Marco D.
Title: Re: Sisal backing
Post by: tattoo dave on August 10, 2012, 05:21:27 pm
Never tried it, but would love to see some pics of the results.

Tattoo Dave
Title: Re: Sisal backing
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on August 10, 2012, 07:58:41 pm
All I know about that twine is that each fiber has almost no elasticity or ten sile strength. It may protect the back by acting as a glue matrix, but it wont hold reflex and I dont think it will do as much work as the glue holding it together will. Just my .0000002 cents worth.
Title: Re: Sisal backing
Post by: toomanyknots on August 10, 2012, 08:40:30 pm
Heck, I've seen plenty of paper grocery bag backings, so if it is strong then it might just work. I know it is strong enough to hold big ol bales of hay together? I remember hauling plenty of bales when I was younger, but most of em had those plastic ties I think? Man, you know what sucks, is when they make the hay out of a big field of whatever is growing and somehow it ends up with a bunch of poison ivy or poison oak. I got that stuff all over my body once hauling bales of hay, as I was loading em on this guys truck without a shirt. Thought it was just itchy hay so I itched all over and spread it everywhere on my upper body.
Title: Re: Sisal backing
Post by: Hrothgar on August 10, 2012, 11:20:29 pm
I bought a roll of sisal once, thinking I might try to make a bow string. When I found out the tensile strength was something like 8-12 # I decided to use it for handle wrap. It looks and feels pretty cool.

Title: Re: Sisal backing
Post by: soy on August 11, 2012, 07:34:07 am
Someone here once said, looks loke you volunteered to be the first....let us know, and good luck >:D
Title: Re: Sisal backing
Post by: killir duck on August 11, 2012, 01:11:40 pm
thought about it but have never tried it
Title: Re: Sisal backing
Post by: DuBois on January 30, 2013, 03:56:36 pm
Just FYI, this did not work out well. The sisal pretty much shredded way before full draw and the bow gave out too  :o
Hard to say if it was the sisal or the workman but  think I will stick with more tried and true backing in the near future.
It did make a nice handle wrap for my first ash self bow though  ;)
Title: Re: Sisal backing
Post by: sleek on January 30, 2013, 04:17:24 pm
Jute fibers work great. I have used them as a backing several times.
Title: Re: Sisal backing
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on February 01, 2013, 09:47:09 am
UP
Title: Re: Sisal backing
Post by: kid bow on February 01, 2013, 11:55:06 am
you have to boil it to get the chemicals out of it the use a wire brush and comb it then let it dry and back with glue