my first sinew bow string!

[swamp monkey]

I did it!  I feel like a 7 year old who learned to ride a bike!  I have made hundreds of feet (maybe even yards) of plant cordage but have never delved into the "scary" world of sinew string building.  Jackcrafty had an awesome build along in the How to and Build Along section, so I did what he did and Wallah!

I used two back strap sinew pieces harvested from domestic white-tail deer    Worked the fibers loose and made string.  The string ended up roughly 3/16 " thick.  I put a loop in one end but will likely cut that off and use a slip knot to be authentic. 

The string will go on a special project.  I intend to make a bison horn composite bow as authentic as I can.  Needed a sinew string to do that.  Now I have one!  Thanks for looking. 

[bowtarist]

now that's pretty cool swamp monkey.  I need to look for that build along.  how long is that string? dpgratz

[swamp monkey]

Thanks.  The string ended up 51" long.   I only needed a little over 40" string to match up with  the 36" bow Jim Hamm did in his book on Native American bows, arrows and quivers.   I made the string while watching a movie with my children.  I did not pay particular attention to the length and by the time the movie was over I has too much   good problem to have I suppose.  So it is possible to make a 51 inch string in 90 minutes. . . once the sinew is processed.

thanks for looking.

[ErictheViking]

Great man! nice accomplishment, now you can completely primitive.

[PEARL DRUMS]

Thats is cool but how does the stretchy aspect of sinew work?

[JackCrafty]

Looks great! 

[Gus]

That is cool as heck!

Gotta give that a try...
I'll be looking for that build along as well.

-gus

[JackCrafty]

Here's a link to my playlist of sinew bowstring videos on youtube.  Basically the same as the build-a-long but the video series explains it better, IMO.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmZibFv1Si8&list=PLCB1D0FA9FE0BFB7D&feature=plcp&context=C466ef6bFDvjVQa1PpcFPSd1aBaazFp9HMMbKMlT8XNQh5AMXRdMU=

[swamp monkey]

Thats is cool but how does the stretchy aspect of sinew work?

Pearl, are you asking about the final drying, or the stretchiness that occurs while shooting, or as it pertains to humidity? 

I might be able to address a question about final drying.  The rest I have to experiment with and likely do not know enough to say.  Others on the site may know more. 

[JackCrafty]

Sinew strings are not that stretchy, actually.  Sinew behaves a lot like polyester cord, as far as stretching is concerned.  Sinew is a lot less stretchy than nylon.

[mullet]

Looks good SM. I have one too, anybody know a good way to moisture proof them?

[stickbender]

Looks good SM. I have one too, anybody know a good way to moisture proof them?

                                             Beeswax?  Paraffin, Hairspray?

                                                    Wayne

[JackCrafty]

Coating the sinew string with waterproof titebond glue is the best way I've seen so far to protect the string from rain.  You don't want the sinew to dry out too much, though.  Sinew gets weak when extremely dry.  And too moisture weakens the string also.  You've got to keep a happy medium.

In my experience, waxes, oils, and pitch won't prevent the string from absorbing water.  Hairspray?

[stickbender]

     Hair spray, contains, a lacquer, or something like that.  that is why, hair is stiff. when sprayed with it.  I have used it on my fletching, years ago, when I bow hunted.
A Friend of mine used it, and it worked pretty well.  Where I hunted at the time, was interspersed with thick brush, and semi open areas.  In the early morning, the bushes where soaked with heavy dew.  Don't know how it would work on bow strings, but at first it would, till the string was flexed, and the lacquer cracked.

                                                  Wayne

[coaster500]

Thank you

this will work for my Nor California bow