Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: 4giveme on April 06, 2013, 08:14:32 am
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Hi All,
I am getting ready to sinew a bow and i was thinking about changing it up a little.
I normally use tite-bond 2 or 3 to apply the sinew. However I am hearing that this type of glue does not allow the sinew to work to its full potential.
So as an alternative I was going to use knox gelatin, is this a good choice? Your thoughts are welcome.
4giveme
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Use hide glue,and yes Knox gelatin is hide glue...if only them jello loving dirty hippy tree hugging peta member vegetarians knew ;)
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Give the knox a try and see what you think. Now that you have used TBIII you will be able to form an experienced opininon for yourself. Im a hide glue lover myself.
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I haven't used the knox on sinew, but have used it with great success on rawhide and snake skins.
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Hide glue.
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The knox will work fine, I have used it several times. I prefer my home made hide glue though. Make sure you degrease the back of your bow before backing it.
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I will double-down on what Osage Outlaw just said. Especially the part about degreasing the back of the bow. If you used ANY oil on the bow while doing heat corrections I'd even go so far as to get a can of oven cleaner and spray that on the bow, let it sit a while and then wash with hot water. Then I'd mis a little baking soda in water and rinse the bow again with that to finish the clean up.
Unflavored gelatin is just fine, not a problem. When rendering plants are breaking down all the leftover stuff that they don't even want for making hot dogs, the best and finest of the hide glue goes to the gelatin trade. It's colorless, odorless, and flavorless. #2 grade goes to high end book binders and instrument makers. Furniture grade is somewhere around #4 grade. Yeah, sometimes I look at a sinew backed bow and think of it as Jello Jigglers With Fiber!
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Hey hide glue all the way!!!!!!!Nothing like it.A person can figure out a good way to weatherproof it.Like PD said you can compare it.I'd presoak your sinew in water too before putting it in the sinew soup.
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Howdy, I vote for hide glue, too. Knox is an easily used version. I second everyone else's suggestions and would also suggest one application of thin glue as a sizing. Also, don't have the glue too hot when dipping the sinew! Ron
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Thanks Ron,
What ratio of water to Knox is best?
4giveme
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Use hide glue,and yes Knox gelatin is hide glue...if only them jello loving dirty hippy tree hugging peta member vegetarians knew ;)
LOL!!! You crack me up, man!
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Thanks Ron,
What ratio of water to Knox is best?
4giveme
2 ounces of water to each individual packet...you want a consistency of light syrup( the real kind of syrup,n none of that thick nasty fat aunt jemima crap) ;)
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I'm more partial to Mrs Butterworth's.
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Apple syrup is the best. I never measure the water for glue though, just add a little water to soften and heat. Add more to achieve the right consistency. For sizing bare wood it can be almost watery. For dipping sinew bundles a "light syrup" consistency is a good description. Ron
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thanks guys
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Emphasis is on LIGHT syrup.
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The temp should be around 120 - 130 degrees? I am thinking that Knox can be used on all glue joints such as overlays and such?
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Hide glue is great stuff, but not water proof. I don't use hide glue for tip overlays because I figure it's just too hard to keep water away from the glue line. I have purchased some garage sale bows where the splices and handle lams were done with hide glue. The glue failed after only ~ 50 years of sitting around. Ron
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If you are in the lower 48 or in an area that has normal humidity levels hide glue works great. If while sinewing bows you have problems with excessive cracking or bows pulling themselves apart or unusual drying problems tb3 could be your solution! I had all kinds of problems when I moved to Ak when sinewing bows tb3 proved very reliable. I have used both and I vary application technique and glue to match what I want to accomplish with each stave. I would use both then learn which works best for a given stave. Experience will provide you with answers in time. There is not one answer.
G'day
Chris