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Congratulations to simson for winning November/December Backed BOM!!!

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beardedhorse:
Simson,  congrats on  win.  Some of us scrub an osage bow's back with a good grease cutting dish detergent after scratching shallow longitudinal grooves with a dulled hacksaw blade to prep for sinew or rawhide backing.  Then  use boiling water to rinse out soap.   Wear heavy rubbber gloves to prevent scalding. When dry, do three washes with acetone or the cheaper lacquer thinner.  MEK is also a good de greaser.  All three are dangerous and you should use in an area with good ventilation and solvent resistant gloves.   Keep away from flame.  They are terrible for the liver and the skin and the brain if inhaled too often. The first washing or scrubbing will "flash" dissolve  and de grease the oil  but alsoevaporate leaving some of the oil as a film.  The subsequent two washings should float away this film.   Next I prime the back by diluting some of the same hide glue that is used full strength when glueing on pre dampened leg sinew from elk or bison or deer or antelope.   Back sinew gives you longer lengths but not as much strength as leg.   Too wet a sinew saturates it with moisture so that it can't absorb as much hide glue.  Wrapping with "bandages" of split bicycle inner tire tubes will squeeze out excess glue and hold sinew in place or move it out of position if you wrap too tight or carelessly.    Nice job.  Sorry this reply is so late.  Just now getting around to opening this mail.  Keep up the good work.

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