Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => HowTo's and Build-a-longs => Topic started by: Robert Pougnier on December 23, 2025, 12:43:37 pm
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Here is a build along for a Eastern red cedar/sinew bow I am making. It's a first in a few ways: It's my first lumber bow, first juniper/sinew bow, and first time building a bow with materials I've mostly purchased rather than harvested. Eastern Red Cedar is a Juniper (Juniperus virginiana). It has a low SG but is very elastic. I've read that they can make excellent yet finecky sinew backed bows. I've read that tighter ringed trees and heartwood are densest.
I selected a quarter sawn and tight ringed board that was much darker on average than the rest. It also felt a bit denser/heavier than most of the other ones in the pile. It's free of any noticeable knots, though has a couple small pins.
To add to the challenge and fun, I also purchased a handful of beef sinew dog chews to see what I could get out of it. It turns out that while a couple pieces were fairly degraded, I was able to get 3 fully processed and they are very long and clean. I swished them in rubbing alcohol after processing because they are bit greasier and stinkier than elk and deer sinew.
The first set of photos is of the materials.
Here are the rough dimensions of the bow: 62 inches end to end, 60.5" ntn.1.75" at fades and down to 1.5 at midlimb. Light taper to 3/4 inch before the nocks. pin nocks are 1/2' . Target draw weight and length is 45# @ 27".
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I first built a handle riser on the belly side
For the riser I used another piece of red cedar for the base layer. My thinking here is that the softer wood could behave like part of the core around the fades and would relieve some stress in those areas I also glued the base layer in two pieces (see the seam in photo) to relieve more stress. For the top layer of the riser I used a piece of beautiful dark poplar. It's also soft and will contrast well with the rest.
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photos of riser before roughing out
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I then relfexed the bow slightly, only about an inch and a half on each limb total using the heat gun on a very slow setting. This was both to temper the belly very slightly and induce a bit of initial reflex before applying sinew.
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I roughed out the handle riser and brought the bow to some slightly overbuilt dimensions. I cut out some pin nocks.
The back was sanded down to 220 and the edges rounded in preparation for the sinew backing.
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In preparation for the first layer of sinew the back was first degreased using rubbing alcohol.
I then sized the whole back and ends of the bow with thin hide glue. I made sure the nocks were covered on the belly side and that the sizing went down the sides of the bow some as these will all receive sinew.
About a half hour later I started to apply the first layer. I resized the bow and each bundle of sinew was dipped in thin glue, smoothed straight and most of the glue squeezed out of each bundle before applying (I like doing it this way it's less messy).
The first layer (50g) was applied evenly over the back and over the nocks, but not over the sides,
The back was crowned slightly and the nock ends and sides (down 1/3) will be covered thoroughly with the second layer.
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Last of the first layer applied.
I wrapped the bow with innertubes and let it sit 24 hours at 70 degrees and 50 % RH before removing the wrap (I like the smooth compression).
The second layer will be applied pretty much right away.
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First layer after 24 hours with the wrap
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I then applied the second layer of sinew. I again sized the bow generously with thin hide glue and waited for it to gel before proceeding.
This one is 60 grams (total of 110 grams).
For the second layer, I first applied short pieces in any gaps there were. Then using the longest pieces of dog chew sinew I covered the whole back once more extending down the sides about one third of the way and back over the nock areas and anywhere that had been applied unevenly the first layer.
For this and the first layer I made sure each side received the same amount of sinew.
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last of the second layer before being wrapped again overnight
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This is the bow 24 hours later after removing the wrap.
I took a profile photo to show before and after shots of the bow being reflexed by the 110 grams of sinew.
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2 weeks later
The bow has taken close to 3 inches of reflex total. In about another week or two I will start tillering it and will update the thread then.
Thanks for looking!
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Cool project! I’ve never built one like that with the grain run that way. Mine have all been typical grain found in stave wood. Even belly drop bows I’ve made like this have the grain running the typical way. Should be interesting how the wood holds up for ya. I know guys have built them this way and got shooters so it must be doable. Sinew looks good! I use the same glue pot which is a repurposed wax pot! Cools stuff. Keep us updated on progress
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Thanks!
Do you have any idea whether it would be best to keep the belly totally flat or trap it very slightly? I haven't touched the belly dimensions yet besides width and there is not much room for mistakes.