Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Hunter Van Winkle on September 06, 2012, 05:10:10 pm

Title: How can I make this rawhide backing pretty?
Post by: Hunter Van Winkle on September 06, 2012, 05:10:10 pm

I have a bow that I made for someone, it's hickory backed with 2 parallel strips of rawhide. It's uglier than I thought it'd be.

Painting over it is not an option, it needs to be covered up. Should I use some kind of thin cotton material? Perhaps bark?

What would you do?

Title: Re: How can I make this rawhide backing pretty?
Post by: Tom Leemans on September 06, 2012, 05:12:53 pm

Why is painting out? BTW ugly depends on your point of view. You call it ugly. I call it character. :D

Title: Re: How can I make this rawhide backing pretty?
Post by: boughnut on September 06, 2012, 05:21:13 pm

snake skin, fish skin, patterned cloth, plain cloth with give you the same look.  There is nothing wrong with the look of rawhide though I usually just stain it up a bit or use leather dye with faded colors.  but snake or fish skins is always a great way to go.

Title: Re: How can I make this rawhide backing pretty?
Post by: Hunter Van Winkle on September 06, 2012, 05:52:46 pm

The problem is that I used 2 more narrow strips of rawhide side by side lengthwise and I didn't line them up as well as I should have.  If I had 1 wider strip, it would have been much more attractive.

If you were to use cloth, would you cut it to size and then glue it down, or would you oversize it, glue it, and trim it afterwards? What method would give a clean edge?

Title: Re: How can I make this rawhide backing pretty?
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on September 06, 2012, 06:55:09 pm

Try staining it. Super sweet...

Title: Re: How can I make this rawhide backing pretty?
Post by: tattoo dave on September 06, 2012, 10:21:42 pm

Like Tom said, why not paint it? If you put fabric on it, make it a little too big and trim it, after glue dries. Like Pearl said, stain looks sweet too!!

Tattoo Dave

Title: Re: How can I make this rawhide backing pretty?
Post by: osage outlaw on September 06, 2012, 10:46:52 pm

Wait until tomorrow and check out the stain job that Pearly did on my rawhide backed HHB bow.  It is sweet!

Title: Re: How can I make this rawhide backing pretty?
Post by: JW_Halverson on September 06, 2012, 11:17:25 pm

If the strips were so narrow that you had to put them down side by side down the length of the bow, I guess I would have done a simple stitch that looked like X's down the joint. 

And then I would have called it "Bow of Frankenstein"

Title: Re: How can I make this rawhide backing pretty?
Post by: Hunter Van Winkle on September 07, 2012, 01:47:07 am

I think i'm going to lift the backing and put a wider one on tomorrow. Is goat rawhide too thin?

Title: Re: How can I make this rawhide backing pretty?
Post by: Gus on September 07, 2012, 02:25:14 am

Goat Rawhide is good...
I have some that I left the hair on...
Waiting till I find a Real Funky piece of wood to inflict it on... :)

-gus

Title: Re: How can I make this rawhide backing pretty?
Post by: Del the cat on September 07, 2012, 06:01:33 am

Stick some false eyelashes and lipstick on it...
It'll look fine to most blokes ::).
Del

Title: Re: How can I make this rawhide backing pretty?
Post by: Hunter Van Winkle on September 07, 2012, 11:00:28 am

Gus, that sounds like a real wild bow, can't wait to see it :)

Title: Re: How can I make this rawhide backing pretty?
Post by: JW_Halverson on September 07, 2012, 04:26:19 pm

Quote from: Del the cat on September 07, 2012, 06:01:33 am

Stick some false eyelashes and lipstick on it...
It'll look fine to most blokes ::).
Del

.....or implants. 

The thinnest of all goat rawhides is still more than strong enough for the job.  You will be good to go!