Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Spotted Dog on May 22, 2015, 10:05:58 pm

Title: juniper stave
Post by: Spotted Dog on May 22, 2015, 10:05:58 pm

Been workin on a lot of stuff. I have this juniper stave ready for sinew I think.  40" long 1 3/8 wide and 3/4 thick at grip down
to 9/16 tips. Is that too heavy or where to go from here ? 
Just to clarify I have been building for a while all on my own. Very few books and going from pictures. PA has helped me a lot.

Title: Re: juniper stave
Post by: Oglala Bowyer on May 22, 2015, 10:21:22 pm

Dog, I just finished a 40 in sinew backed juniper. For mine I put down 6 layers of sinew which gave me a 50 lb draw. How many layers do you plan on putting down?  Other than that you should be ok. Can't wait to see it.

Title: Re: juniper stave
Post by: loefflerchuck on May 22, 2015, 10:33:25 pm

I've never used a numerical formula. If it's too heavy remove wood. For sinew backing though it's best to make the bow as thin as possible to let the sinew do it's work and draw it to a reflex

Title: Re: juniper stave
Post by: Spotted Dog on May 22, 2015, 11:50:48 pm

Thank you. Hey Chuck I got this stave along with a bigger one from you. I love the bow I got from you.
It has been raining almost every day here so I haven't started it. More rain for the next5 days too.

Dan

Title: Re: juniper stave
Post by: Spotted Dog on May 23, 2015, 10:27:14 am

I thought about 3 layers of sinew. It will be my first backed with sinew. I made one for a cousin out of Brazilian osage and
backed it with rawhide. He doesn't shoot it , just hangs over his mantle.

Title: Re: juniper stave
Post by: Redhand on May 24, 2015, 11:48:58 am

I don't think that's too heavy to sinew back. Like Chuck said if it is too heavy remove some wood. I usually get my staves to floor tiller then sinew back them. A juniper stave with 3 layers of sinew should be a sweet shooter. Good luck with that and keep us posted.

Title: Re: juniper stave
Post by: loefflerchuck on May 24, 2015, 01:33:55 pm

Hi Dan, cant wait to see the bow. Considering it is sunny almost every day all summer, I am loving this rainy weather around here.

Title: Re: juniper stave
Post by: Spotted Dog on May 24, 2015, 03:24:39 pm

 I am either going to get goldfish or a gator and put in the swamp I used to call my back yard. :o

Title: Re: juniper stave
Post by: Spotted Dog on May 24, 2015, 04:00:45 pm

Another question. What is the best glue to use ? I have seen a few men use TBIII , one liquid hide glue,
or the dry hide glue made up fresh ?  I have never used hide glue. Willing to learn though.

Title: Re: juniper stave
Post by: Redhand on May 24, 2015, 05:24:42 pm

I use hide glue the dry. I have also made hide glue with the pieces of sinew from processing it and that is a long process. For the most part I end up buying the hide glue then mixing it. And if I have left over I just freeze it until I'm ready to use it again.

Title: Re: juniper stave
Post by: Aaron H on May 24, 2015, 06:21:07 pm

Or you could use Knox gelatin that you can get from your grocery store

Title: Re: juniper stave
Post by: Ryan C on May 24, 2015, 06:24:25 pm

I've recently sinew backed a juniper bow using Knox and it's great.