Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: darwin on January 25, 2013, 02:10:23 pm
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what weight / thickness of rawhide do you typically use when backing a bow? Or does it even matter?
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Thinner is better. For example, deer or goat, rather than elk or cow. You can reduce thickness with a scraper or belt sander, but to do that without creating very thin spots here and there is difficult.
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I clamp each end of the strip down and use 80 grit on a sandng block to evenly thin it. Its take some elbow grease, but its worth it.
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something like the thickness of paperboard is pretty good, maybe a bit thicker for a high draw weight bow, but i think that anything under 60 will probably be fine with paperboard thickness, thats the thickness used on an ERC i did, and the backing held and yet the wood blew before the backing, it was close to 50 lbs.
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I thin all mine up to where I can almost see through it. If you ever tried to rip rawhide you will realize its mean stuff that simply doesnt tear, even paper thin. I always look for thin rawhide to save the sanding, but I will take and use just about any of it.
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I get my antelope hides thru a guy that advertises in the classifieds in Primitive Archer Magazine, Michael Foltmer. His antelope hides are as thin as a business card. Stuff is tuff as it gets, too!
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Every time I see a lil yealin deer in the woods I can't help but think RAWHIDE!!! I'm with pearls, see through, thin is good. Does the job with less weight :)