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Squirrel rawhide as bowstring questions

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wally:
     I'm trying out squirrel skin as bowstring and have two soaking in lime water to free up the fur. A couple of questions arise though:
Do you cut the squirrel rawhide while it is still damp, as rawhide gets brittle when fully dry?
If I eventually get rawhide strips how do I actually make a string?
Presumably the rawhide string will have to be about 2mm thick? Or thicker? Squirrel skin is very thin though.
Do you just twist several damp strands together as a normal string?

Why was squirrel skin used as you'll need several of them to make a decent length? Why not use deer rawhide for instance, as there's more of it?

I have used bought buffalo rawhide string, but not for a bowstring. It is a good 3mm square and, while it was stiff and unpliable when dry, when wetted pulls apart very easily. Will squirrel rawhide be the same, as I would have to make sure it wasn't too wet and weak to twist into bowstring?

nugget:
Deer rawhide has been used a bunch for bowstrings. I have never done squirrel. Deer can be cut long enough then wetted and twisted for a string.

El Destructo:
Wally.....Squirrel Rawhide is some wonderful stuff...you don't even need to dehair it either....works great the way nature made it....once you get it dehaired....rinse it well...tack it out to dry....once dry either buy a Rawhide Lace maker from Tandy like I did....or use scissors....cut the legs off the skin so you have a nice oval shape....and start cutting your lace anywhere....and go alp the way around the skin....and keep cutting this way in one continuous cut....all the way to the center... I can normally make one string out of one Fox Squirrel hide this way....once you get the strips made....soak them in warm water till pliable...take two strips and start twisting them up tight...and evenly....do this all the way down...once it's all twisted....tie a weight to it and secure the weight so it can't untwist....and let it dry. You will be amazed how tough this hide is.

mullet:
 Mike said it all. It is a lot tougher than deer rawhide.

hedgeapple:
I just order me a lace maker from Tandy.  I been needing/wanting one for awhile.  Now, I need to grab the .22 and go pop a tree tree rat in the head.  :)  Don't you just love this hobby/obsession.  You can gather materials and dinner at the same time.  :)

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