Author Topic: my first sinew bow string!  (Read 7492 times)

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Offline swamp monkey

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my first sinew bow string!
« on: March 20, 2012, 11:01:40 pm »
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! ;D

I used two back strap sinew pieces harvested from domestic white-tail deer  :D  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. 

Offline bowtarist

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Re: my first sinew bow string!
« Reply #1 on: March 21, 2012, 01:34:27 am »
now that's pretty cool swamp monkey.  I need to look for that build along.  how long is that string? 8) dpgratz
(:::.)    Osage music played daily. :)

Offline swamp monkey

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Re: my first sinew bow string!
« Reply #2 on: March 21, 2012, 10:14:30 am »
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 :o  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.

Offline ErictheViking

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Re: my first sinew bow string!
« Reply #3 on: March 21, 2012, 01:20:05 pm »
Great man! nice accomplishment, now you can completely primitive. :)
"He that but looketh on a plate of ham and eggs to lust after it hath already committed breakfast with it in his heart"  C.S. Lewis

Offline PEARL DRUMS

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Re: my first sinew bow string!
« Reply #4 on: March 21, 2012, 04:00:37 pm »
Thats is cool but how does the stretchy aspect of sinew work?
Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught will we realize we cannot eat money.

Offline JackCrafty

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Re: my first sinew bow string!
« Reply #5 on: March 21, 2012, 04:12:06 pm »
Looks great!  ;D
Any critter tastes good with enough butter on it.

Patrick Blank
Midland, Texas
Youtube: JackCrafty, Allergic Hobbit, Patrick Blank

Where's Rock? Public Waterways, Road Cuts, Landscape Supply, Knap-Ins.
How to Cook It?  200° for 24hrs then 275° to 500° for 4hrs (depending on type), Cool for 12hr

Offline Gus

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Re: my first sinew bow string!
« Reply #6 on: March 21, 2012, 06:27:11 pm »
That is cool as heck!

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

-gus
"I taught him archery everyday, and when he got good at it he throw an arrow at me."

Conroe, TX

Offline JackCrafty

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Re: my first sinew bow string!
« Reply #7 on: March 21, 2012, 07:28:21 pm »
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=
Any critter tastes good with enough butter on it.

Patrick Blank
Midland, Texas
Youtube: JackCrafty, Allergic Hobbit, Patrick Blank

Where's Rock? Public Waterways, Road Cuts, Landscape Supply, Knap-Ins.
How to Cook It?  200° for 24hrs then 275° to 500° for 4hrs (depending on type), Cool for 12hr

Offline swamp monkey

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Re: my first sinew bow string!
« Reply #8 on: March 21, 2012, 08:18:11 pm »
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. 

Offline JackCrafty

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Re: my first sinew bow string!
« Reply #9 on: March 21, 2012, 09:01:03 pm »
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.
Any critter tastes good with enough butter on it.

Patrick Blank
Midland, Texas
Youtube: JackCrafty, Allergic Hobbit, Patrick Blank

Where's Rock? Public Waterways, Road Cuts, Landscape Supply, Knap-Ins.
How to Cook It?  200° for 24hrs then 275° to 500° for 4hrs (depending on type), Cool for 12hr

Offline mullet

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Re: my first sinew bow string!
« Reply #10 on: March 21, 2012, 11:04:45 pm »
Looks good SM. I have one too, anybody know a good way to moisture proof them?
Lakeland, Florida
 If you have to pull the trigger, is it really archery?

Offline stickbender

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Re: my first sinew bow string!
« Reply #11 on: March 22, 2012, 01:43:01 am »
Looks good SM. I have one too, anybody know a good way to moisture proof them?


                                             Beeswax?  Paraffin, Hairspray? ;)

                                                    Wayne

Offline JackCrafty

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Re: my first sinew bow string!
« Reply #12 on: March 22, 2012, 02:11:54 am »
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? ???
Any critter tastes good with enough butter on it.

Patrick Blank
Midland, Texas
Youtube: JackCrafty, Allergic Hobbit, Patrick Blank

Where's Rock? Public Waterways, Road Cuts, Landscape Supply, Knap-Ins.
How to Cook It?  200° for 24hrs then 275° to 500° for 4hrs (depending on type), Cool for 12hr

Offline stickbender

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Re: my first sinew bow string!
« Reply #13 on: March 22, 2012, 05:56:01 pm »

     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

Offline coaster500

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Re: my first sinew bow string!
« Reply #14 on: May 08, 2012, 01:17:05 pm »
Thank you

this will work for my Nor California bow :)
Inspiration, information and instruction by the ton and it's free,,, such a deal :)