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dogbane bowstring

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YosemiteBen:
Good morning all - a small break between storms here in Yosemite.  Dogbane (apocynum cannabinium) is an excellent string material as is milkweed (asclepias speciosa and others) and due to their toxicity care should be taken when harvesting and using.  Here we wait until all of the leaves have fallen off and the stalks turn brown.  Last year I harvested 3000 stems from one patch and barely made a dent in it.  Plans to go back this year.  got it to trade if you want some.  There are some directions on the web if you google making string. In the past when we teach groups of people how to make it we start with scraping very lightly in one direction from the earth end to the sky end. If you scrape too hard or back and forth you cut through your fibers and end up with good tinder.  Start again at the earth end and pinch the stem between your fingers all the way to the top.  Separate into 4 pieces and line them up with the inside facing you rest them pieces on your fingers and stabilize with your thumb, kind of like you are wearing a mitten.  Using your thumb push up about 1 or 2 inches of "stick and using your other hand bend back over your holding hand. Then holding your pushing hand like you are wearing a mitten use your thumb to grab the freshly broken ends and peel from the fibers. Continue all the way to the sky end. I usually work the fibers between my fingers like I am scrubbing a cloth - so whatever works for you.  I finger twist mine but as you gain confidence you can thigh twist it to go faster.  so there are my thoughts on the matter. Ben

richardzane:
cabinet scraper works great.
 works great for scraping the hair off a dry stretched deer skin too

Dictionary:
Ahh i didnt notice you actually made this thread. I thought you were just jiving when you said you were going to when you posted those copper points.

How long is your hackberry bow by the way and how long did it take you to complete a string for it?


I haven't really learned anything about making cordage so im not even sure what two ply means but i'll have to do my research  ::)

richardzane:
see what you got me into, Dictionary?

here are some pics from today - preparing the dogbane fiber for making a new bowstring.
hope these load ok

richardzane:
here's some play by play pics
1)  setting out four stalks worth of fiber for the flemish twist( i thought ,"why not try one?")
2) end loop short section of fiber goes into the short section, long fibers go to the long.
3) adding fiber, twisting tight as possible
4) string is trimmed ,beeswaxed,and strung on my ol' reliable follow-the-string 50# hack berry (60" unstrung)
5) full.draw 28"? with the new dogbane string

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