Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Ballasted_Bowyer on December 12, 2022, 12:02:07 am
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On this forum, where can I find out about rawhide backings. I’ve got a dog chew soaking to experiment with but I’d like to know the accepted wisdom as regards pros, cons, and good species choice as regards rawhide backings. I won’t be paying retail for a prepared backing. So if rabbit roadkill or dog chews or anything in between is useful, what do I need to know?
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Try echo archery. Reasonably priced. Proper backings work much better then the dog bones. It’s much too thick from what I’ve seen and adds a lot of unwanted mass.
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Better you find a deer than a rabbit road kill.
You may also use goat raw hide. Very thin and strong. often used for drums.
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Get a whitetail doe and make it yourself. It's a good thickness, free and you'll have enough for several bows.
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Thank you for the information. What are the pros and cons of rawhide generally?
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It protects the back of the bow, somewhat, from use and accidental dings that could raise a splinter, especially on softer wood, or wood with very fine rings. But it's not meant as a substitute for bad grain, ring, or knot violations. It's not good at stopping failures due to such things, though it might keep the bow from completely blowing up and hurting you. Generally it's not needed on good bow wood, well designed, constructed, and tillered. But sometimes it does look cool 😎
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I have two deer hides drying now in the shop. A doe fawn and a buck. They'll be rawhide in another day or two, but my intent is to continue working them into brain-tanned leather.
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Rawhide protects the back of the bow from damage. I use it often to protect yew sapwood backs.
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goat hide is available at drum shops,, its reasonable, thin,,and works great,,usually several bows from one hide, bout as big as a doe from texas,,
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Could a too thick piece of rawhide be thinned by sanding the flesh side before soaking?
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Yes. I’ve done this before. Sand the rough side and leave the smooth side for your top facing out side. There are irregularities anyway so sanding won’t affect much.