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2 things

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bassman211:
I recently cut , reduced, and floor tillered 3 elm saplings, and placed them all on 4 inch reflex forms. Moisture content when placed on the forms were 25 to 26 percent. 10 days later they have dropped to 17 percent moisture content. They are in my basement were the humidity is 65 percent. Hope that I can get working on the bows in a couple of months. 2nd topic is I just sinew backed a Dave Mead style bamboo horse bow, and used 80 grit sand paper to rough the back of the bow. I have always used a hack saw blade to rough the back of other bow woods. How do you guys rough the back of a bamboo bow for sinew backing? Hope this works for me.

superdav95:
On your first point I would say yes??? Maybe.  Lots of factors and moisture will drop little quicker when worked down more to profile.  As to second point I have done a few of these as you know… how I do my sinew on these style bows is to get ALL the rind off before you start putting sinew on.  I think you’ll be ok at 80 grit but I use at least 36 in past.  Now I use a 20tpi or higher blade to run parallel groves down the length of limb.  It gives it some bite for the glue and sinew to stick.  It also opens up and allows for deeper penetration of sizing coats.  The most important thing with sinew on these 5 piece boo bows is to get that rind off and to do several size coats with very thin hide glue until you see it shine when dry.  Very important for good adhesion.  This becomes more critical on extreme bend bows.  I’ve had good luck with the way I do it but it’s a way and not the way.  I’m sure others have done it differently and had good results.  Best of luck. 

bassman211:
Thanks Dave. The rind is removed, but after I posted I watched on Dave's sight break a limb ,and build an other one, and he did use a fine hack saw blade to rough the back. I should have just ask you before starting. I have sinew backed quite a few bows ,but never bamboo. I used tb3, so maybe it will work .Thanks for your reply. Your are willing to help people on here, and you build excellent bows.

superdav95:
No problem.  Anytime. 

bassman211:
I locked the bows in my truck for a week now . Moisture content is down to 12%. Soon I will be giving them a good belly heat ,and begin the tillering process.  The sinew backed
 bow is about ready for tiller also.

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