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Hemp strings and heavy bows
Hawkdancer:
Very interesting thread! Hemp has just been designated a a "crop" rather than a drug in Colorado, so I expect to see more and better crops, hopefully some emphasizing fiber. I remember that hemp was a huge crop before and during WWII, for both rope and fabric, but then faded due to the "pot is evil" hysteria, then revived a bit as a controlled substance. I'm sure we will relearn a lot of things about hemp fiber strings! Good luck!
Hawkdancer
WillS:
Glad it's of interest! It's certainly the missing link between now and then, as making historical bows and shooting historical arrows with modern Kevlar strings doesn't quite get the answers does it!
The hemp was not grown for fibre strength at all, but for oil and textiles so it's far from perfect. I'm looking into getting it grown purely for long, strong fibre next season but it's just not a viable marketplace at the moment. No farm is going to be interested in losing an area of potential income by growing for bowstrings! As for growing them yourself, it's crucially important that the right strain is chosen. The hemp for smoking is no use, and some industrial strains are just too weak or don't grow high enough. The trouble now is that there are endless hybrids for different end results and we're probably nowhere near the stuff originally grown for bowstrings. An industrial hemp growing license here in the UK is around £600 at the moment, so that's not in my future anytime soon!
The retting wasn't perfect as it was my first time and all the available information is dealing with fibre for textiles, so soft with a good colour is the usual end goal. I think in future retting it for a shorter time period would be best. It's a very difficult balancing act between retting long enough to release the fibre without it stripping towards the end, and not too much so that maximum strength is achieved.
The strings are kept on the bows, simply because the glues stiffen them up. They could be kept coiled up somewhere and unwound for use, but I've not made enough to do this yet. I've also not been shooting them long enough to know the ins and outs of looking for wear. At the moment when they decide to snap, they just go but I'm sure as my familiarity with them grows I'll start noticing the warning signs.
Strelets:
Will, this is very interesting and important research. Have you thought of submitting it to the Society of Archer Antiquaries ? I am sure that they would want to publish it in their journal.
willie:
--- Quote --- An industrial hemp growing license here in the UK is around £600 at the moment, so that's not in my future anytime soon!
--- End quote ---
understandable. Perhaps you might be willing to share what your research has turned up about the desirable (for bowstrings) strains? No license required here anymore.
WillS:
--- Quote from: Strelets on December 31, 2018, 01:18:28 am ---Will, this is very interesting and important research. Have you thought of submitting it to the Society of Archer Antiquaries ? I am sure that they would want to publish it in their journal.
--- End quote ---
I've had articles published by the SAA before and wasn't ever particularly impressed by the results but I'll be presenting the hemp strings to the Guild next year I think, and as many members are in both organisations perhaps I'll discuss it then.
--- Quote from: willie on December 31, 2018, 07:00:38 pm ---
--- Quote --- An industrial hemp growing license here in the UK is around £600 at the moment, so that's not in my future anytime soon!
--- End quote ---
understandable. Perhaps you might be willing to share what your research has turned up about the desirable (for bowstrings) strains? No license required here anymore.
--- End quote ---
I wish I knew what it was! Next year I'll make sure to get those details and I'm still researching which strains are best for which purpose but as of now I've got no idea.
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