Main Discussion Area > Primitive Skills

Squirrel rawhide as bowstring questions

<< < (2/3) > >>

wally:
Thanks for that valuable information El Destructo. I've got 2 squirrel skins I'm going to keep (tried egg yolk, If anyone tries this don't let it dry! You know how hard it is to get dried egg yolk off a plate, well this is a lot worse)
I'm trying the other skins for rawhide string this weekend. Tell you the truth the 2 I'm tanning don't seem strong enough to me, but we'll see.
Are your squirrels bigger than grey squirrels in England? You sometimes need two just to make a decent sandwich! Okay I'm exaggerating a bit, but I'm doobting I'd get a bowstring out of one.
I didn't realise you could leave the fur on. Doesn't that make it a bit thicker?

El Destructo:
It may take.you both Grey to make up for our Fox Squirrels...they are quite a bit bigger than a Grey is...also another good Rawhide source for strings would  be a Pine Martin ....you got then don't you? I have made two strings with the fur on...and both of the I took electric clippers and trimmed the hair shorter...and when I twisted them up...I twisted them fur side out...I believe  they are.every bit as tough as Sinew.strings....and.a whole bunch easier to make....

wally:
Well I failed with that idea.
The squirrel skin with the fur left on looked great but neither strings were strong enough. Single stranded I could break them with my hands.
When I use 1 mm hemp strands one strand is difficult to break.
I think my mistake was that I cut the skin strips too thin (under 1/4"). The skin was also thinner than I thought more like card paper maybe .020" thou' less than 1/16". Are your squirrels thicker skinned?
I'm going to try again when I get more skins and cut it 5/16" wide and see if that works.
Another question, when I get these skins to work for me how do I join the relatively shorter lengths to make a full length string?

JW_Halverson:
I've read that woodchuck makes pretty good bowstrings, too.  I just can't get myself to pop one of those cute little buggers.  'Sides, they aren't all that common around here.

Muleman:
how wide should a guy spiral cut squirrel rawhide?also when you cut and twist them up make a loop like a flemish string for the top loop?and i'm quessing use a bowyers knot for the bottom?what primitive serving should you use?should you reinforce the loops with sinew?thanks Mule

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page

[*] Previous page