Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: BrokenArrow on January 23, 2015, 01:44:38 pm

Title: Hide glue and rawhide backings
Post by: BrokenArrow on January 23, 2015, 01:44:38 pm

How effective is using hide glue from granuals with a goat rawhide backing?

Title: Re: Hide glue and rawhide backings
Post by: Carson (CMB) on January 23, 2015, 01:55:22 pm

It is quite effective. I have used hide glue for deer rawhide backing. Goat should be no different. The only drawback is that it is more susceptible to moisture than wood glue, such as titebond II.

There are old world recipes out there for making hide glue extremely moisture resistant, sucha as adding oak gall tannins to your mix, but I havent experimented enough with those yet to make any suggestions.

Title: Re: Hide glue and rawhide backings
Post by: bradsmith2010 on January 23, 2015, 02:54:12 pm

I will say when trying to soak off a sinew back with hide glue,, it is much more resistant to moisture than I imagined,,
it really took a soak and lot of hard work to get it off,,

Title: Re: Hide glue and rawhide backings
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on January 23, 2015, 03:16:17 pm

I always use TB3 on rawhide for the same reason Carson mentioned, waterproof toughness. If the rawhide needed to move to work, like sinew,  Id use hide glue.

Title: Re: Hide glue and rawhide backings
Post by: Pat B on January 23, 2015, 05:05:18 pm

I've used hide glue on the last couple of rawhide backed bows I've built and like it. I get better adhesion with less air bubbles when using hide glue.
 If you are sealing your finished bow well, moisture shouldn't be any more a problem than when using TB glues. Like Brad said, I also had a heck of a time getting sinew off a broken bow by soaking it in warm water.