Main Discussion Area > Bows
Dogbane-less Hickory shorty
WhistlingBadger:
Got back to work on this. Have it bending to about 6" at 30#, tweaking the bends, about 2" to go before I'll string it...when I noticed that there's a spot where some of the fibers have popped loose on the opposite limb, not the same spot as the previous failure. Man.
I think what I'm learning here is that hide glue doesn't adhere all that well to dogbane, compared to sinew. It takes a ton of glue, and wrapping with string or ace bandage, to make sure it won't come loose. Or just use diluted TB3, but I really want to keep it as primitive as possible. (I used TB3 on the tip repair, so maybe it doesn't matter)
So. I guess I'll reglue this section, wrap it, wait another couple weeks, and get back to work on it. In the meantime, I have some nice, reflexed juniper pieces and a bunch of sinew lying around...
willie:
--- Quote ---I think what I'm learning here is that hide glue doesn't adhere all that well to dogbane,
--- End quote ---
you may be correct as animal collegen probally has an affinity for sinew, nevertheless, hide glue has proven itself with cellulose in other applications.
what if you let the dogbane soak in the hot glue pot for a while and get soft? will it squish into shape better?
WhistlingBadger:
--- Quote from: willie on June 20, 2024, 04:05:55 pm ---
--- Quote ---I think what I'm learning here is that hide glue doesn't adhere all that well to dogbane,
--- End quote ---
you may be correct as animal collegen probally has an affinity for sinew, nevertheless, hide glue has proven itself with cellulose in other applications.
what if you let the dogbane soak in the hot glue pot for a while and get soft? will it squish into shape better?
--- End quote ---
Probably. I think even soaking it in warm water to soften it up would help. But I think the real key is using a lot of glue, then wrapping it tightly for several hours to make sure it really sets up.
WhistlingBadger:
Well, dang it, got this thing all dried out and started bending again. Had it almost to brace, pulling about 35#, and crack, the backing broke. In the same place. Currently steaming it again to remove the backing from that limb. I think I'll peel the backing off that entire limb and redo it, leaving the other one, since it seems to be solid. I'm sure all this steaming has completely undone any benefit the wood got from heat treating. >:( Tempted just to pull off the whole backing and rawhide back it, but first I don't think it would be powerful enough to hunt with (and I'm kind of counting on this bow to hunt antelope this year) and second, dang it, I really want this dogbane idea to work.
superdav95:
Totally understand this frustration. This is the principle of the thing now. You’ll get it sorted out.
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