Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: E. Jensen on March 10, 2015, 08:55:32 pm

Title: Backing?
Post by: E. Jensen on March 10, 2015, 08:55:32 pm

For a heartwood only yew bow, should I back it and with what?  Not sinew because I want to keep it long ~72".

Title: Re: Backing?
Post by: wizardgoat on March 10, 2015, 09:39:24 pm

Rawhide

Title: Re: Backing?
Post by: bubby on March 10, 2015, 09:46:45 pm

Boo

Title: Re: Backing?
Post by: Peacebow_Coos on March 10, 2015, 09:55:52 pm

Quote from: bubby on March 10, 2015, 09:46:45 pm

Boo

Quote from: wizardgoat on March 10, 2015, 09:39:24 pm

Rawhide

+1, or air

Title: Re: Backing?
Post by: E. Jensen on March 10, 2015, 09:59:08 pm

Does an 'air' backing on yew heartood handle grain violation pretty well?

Title: Re: Backing?
Post by: osage outlaw on March 10, 2015, 10:05:06 pm

I have no yew experience so this is a question for the guys who do.  Could you just put down a single layer of sinew?

Title: Re: Backing?
Post by: E. Jensen on March 10, 2015, 10:08:42 pm

Everything I've learned tells me 72" is too long for sinew.

Title: Re: Backing?
Post by: PatM on March 10, 2015, 10:17:54 pm

There was an outstanding sinew backed yew longbow posted a while back. Don't believe all the myths.  ;)

Title: Re: Backing?
Post by: Pat B on March 10, 2015, 10:37:16 pm

A single layer of sinew should give pretty good protection but it more work and probably no better than a rawhide backing.  I would use rawhide unless you wanted a performance backing.

Title: Re: Backing?
Post by: steve b. on March 10, 2015, 11:43:24 pm

I'm with the Pats.  Boo would be great assuming that is an option.  Otherwise, rawhide.  Sinew is only a performance issue on the outer limbs, especially long bows that have, well, alot of outer limb.  So consider rawhide on the outer and sinew 3/4 up the limb.  There is no wood that I would not back once the ring is violated.

Title: Re: Backing?
Post by: George Tsoukalas on March 10, 2015, 11:52:10 pm

Head'em up! Move'em out! Rawhide! :) Jawge

Title: Re: Backing?
Post by: Pat B on March 11, 2015, 12:29:44 am

You are aging your self Roughty Yates.   ;)

Title: Re: Backing?
Post by: E. Jensen on March 11, 2015, 12:34:00 am

Well I haven't violated anything yet, it just has very tight rings.

Title: Re: Backing?
Post by: PatM on March 11, 2015, 09:00:16 am

If you've worked a yew heartwood stave to a single unbroken ring you deserve a medal.

Title: Re: Backing?
Post by: steve b. on March 11, 2015, 09:25:54 am

Out of my league for sure, so I'll just shut up.  Watch........

Title: Re: Backing?
Post by: Pappy on March 11, 2015, 09:39:46 am

Rawhide would be my suggestion.  :)
   Pappy

Title: Re: Backing?
Post by: crooketarrow on March 11, 2015, 11:17:21 am

  Stain the bow like you want then barnish the bows back really,really good. Let it set a week and rebarnish it really good again. Yew hart wood in general compress's twice as much as any other wood. I learned not to back yew banish it. I did 3 bows like this as far as I know there all still alive and working.

Title: Re: Backing?
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on March 11, 2015, 11:29:48 am

Quote from: PatM on March 10, 2015, 10:17:54 pm

There was an outstanding sinew backed yew longbow posted a while back. Don't believe all the myths.  ;)

Yup.

Most rawhide is much heavier than 1-2 layers of sinew on a 1.25" wide bow. Who cares about the sinew stretching and working, its lighter therefore faster. That being said, Id use rawhide because its quick and easy and 10 FPS means zero to me.

Title: Re: Backing?
Post by: wizardgoat on March 11, 2015, 12:55:06 pm

Plus the time difference between applying a rawhide backing or 1-2 layers of sinew is hours

Title: Re: Backing?
Post by: E. Jensen on March 11, 2015, 02:32:15 pm

And I don't have any sinew. . . I do have some linen fibers and some hemp bark I've been itching to use.  Its about 1/4" wide and 10ft long, very strong, I have a hard time breaking a single strand with my hands, and pretty thin stuff, like paper.