Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Arrows => Topic started by: RidgeRunner on June 09, 2008, 10:59:53 am
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I have a set of cane arrows that are, thus far, made completely from primitive materials.
Other that back strap sinew, which I have none of, what else can be used to make long thin fibers to bind a whole feather to an arrow shaft??
Thanks
David
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Dogbane, milkweed, nettle, basswood, hickory, or other bast fibers can be used as-is or made into fine cordage and used to tie on fletching. I've done it a few times, works pretty good. I've seen pics of several old NA arrows done like that. You might also try talking Pat out of a lock of his beard :)
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:o
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10-4
I have some milkweed. Don't know if I am capable of cording it up that fine. I guess we will see.
Mentioning Pat's beard brings something to mind. A horse's tail.
The hair in a horse tail that is. What do ya ll think. Could horse tail hair be used??
David
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Horse hair could be used but I think it would get brittle over time. I have used it for decorations and in the old days rope was made with horse tail hair. so I guess it work OK.
Don't worry about making cordage with the milkweed. Use a single strand to do your wrapping and set the end wraps with pitch or hide glue. Pat
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10-4
Thanks Pat.
I will give that a try
David
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Mentioning Pat's beard brings something to mind. A horse's tail.
That's almost what I would have said. ;D ;D ;D >:D ;D
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Steve, that is a horses TAIL not what you were thinking. Cheeze, this younger generation! ::)
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I've used horse tail to wrap nocks, stone points and feathers. You can just soak them in hide glue, TB2 or 3. then wrap with pine pitch, it works good.
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I've experimented with very long flax fibers to attach feathers to an arrow. I bought some from a weavers' supply outfit.
Works pretty good but the fibers are not strong. I dipped them in hide glue and applied it just like sinew. The only thing I didn't like was the smell. The flax plant needs to be retted or "decomposed" before the fibers can be extraced.
I'm going to experiment with some mulberry inner bark soon...but I think it will be hard to beat sinew. I use thread and waterproof woodworker's glue if I want something that will stand up to abuse.
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I have used Yucca Fibers....you take a leaf off the Yucca...bend the Tip over and over till it breaks....then pull it towards the bottom of the Leaf....and you get a Needle...with a piece of Yucca Thread...the Locals here used to use it to sew Buckskins and rawhide..... I have had good luck with it for Hafting and Sewing and even used it to serve a String for a Bow once....this stuff is really tough
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Nettle works awesome. Just cut it now and let it dry really good. Then you brush the stingers off and peel the fibers away from the pith. Makes really great binding and cordage.
Cheers,
Grant
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El Destructo, Yucca is a awesome plant i once made a bow string outa yucca , also fishing line, the stalks are good for friction fire. This is for you DTiller, you can even make sope from the roots... BearGrass is one of my favorite plants.
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Soap for David.........I think He has enough ::)....dont you?? Also you have to have a Backhoe to dig one up!!! These are some Tough Suckers!!
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try palmeto leaves. i think it would rot eventually though. :-\ good survival cordage anyway. :)
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I believe Otzi's arrows were bound with some sort of animal hair. Horse hair has a breaking point of around 5 lbs, I once read.
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I have corded yucca and it is very strong. i wouldnt hesitate to use it
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This past weekend I went looking for long thin fibers.
Yucca, elm bark, mulberry bark, horse hair, milkweed and dogbane were all looked at.
I settled on dogbane. It is still (very) green this time of year, but I cut 5 - 4 foot stalks anyway.
I was able to peel out sections of the inner fibers that were about 1/10 of an inch wide as thin as two sheets of paper and three glorious feet long.
These were, as individuals, twisted into a round cords and allowed to dry.
After they were dry a needle was used to lace them up through the feathers.
The ends of the lashings will be tied down with my second binding of sinew over the ends of the feathers.
That should hold them.
David
David
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Leapingbare was trying to describe Dogbane to me and I'm pretty sure I know what it is...anyone have a picture?
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here this is what it looks like.
[attachment deleted by admin]
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Greg:
How often do you get into the City of Nashville? Just north of the airport on Elm Hill Pike to be presice.
There is quite a bit of Dogbane and Milkweed growing on the north side of Elm Hill Pike between McGavock Pike and Donelson Pike.
Best I remember there was a good size patch of Dogbane at the intersection where Old Elm Hill turns north off of Elm Hill.
Once you know what you are looking for it is easy to spot.
Dogbane and Milkweed both have sticky white sap. Dogbane has radish colored branched stalks and yellow looking leaves.
Milkweed has green straight stalks and much larger leaves.
I spent four weeks up there last year.
David
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That sounds cool David. Can you not post pictures? I'd like to see your handywork :).
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Hay Paul:
Good to here from you. Where is the next water tank?
My home computer is belly-up right now. I am posting this from work.
I have never been very good with computers any way so it going to take someone else to fix it.
Posting pictures is something that requires to many clicks and such. It will take me some time to get all of that figured out.
Once my home computer is running again I will work on posting pictures.
David
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That's not what I thought it was...and from that picture I can't recall seeing it before (dogbane). Milkweed I know when I see it...I guess it works as well.
Don't get to Nashville often...
Greg
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I just googled dogbane and found examples of it and other cordage plants. What I had thought Leapingbare was describing turned out to be bullthistle...another good cordage plant I understand. I'm still not sure if I've seen dogbane from the pictures...will have to be on the lookout for it. :)
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Ahh, think I remember you telling me about that computer thing David. Hope you can get it fixed soon. I'm in Houston at the moment and man it's hot, off to MS next. I found a plant here that seems to work for cordage, was picking milkweed and thought I'd try it out. May post a pic - see if anyone knows what it is..
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Milkweed and Dogbane often grow in the same area so it might be Dogbane.
Please post a pic of it.
David
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Here we go - has anyone seen this plant? ;D.
[attachment deleted by admin]
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I dont have a clue what that is. ???
David
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Do the leaves curl up when you touch them? If so the common name is "sensative Plant". I believe it is in the mimosa family. I could be completely out of the ball park, though. Pat
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Cowboy....it looks like immature honey mesquite... ???
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I know what your talking about Pat - it grows all over my back yard. It's fun to teach kids new discoveries with it when it closes up ;D.
I don't think it's mesquite, it grows along creeks and streams and in clear cuts. It's some kind of weed and dies out anually. Anyway, I twisted up some cordage out of it and it was hell for stout but gets somewhat brittle when it dries - probably not much good..
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Paul, Does it have a fruit(later in the season). It kinda looks like partridge pea...but not quite! Pat
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Paul, I'm with Pat, it looks like some sort of Cassia species. You got a lot of plants out there that I've never seen or heard of before, though.
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If memory serves me correctly - it makes bean pods when it matures, i'm pretty sure. Will see if I can look it up in a field guide.
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I tie short stands of sinew together, wet them, wrap feather and coat with hide glue. Jawge