Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: GaryL on October 23, 2021, 12:01:16 pm
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I have a question about sanding rawhide after it’s dry on a bows back. I just finished tillering a nice Osage stave and wanted to try my first attempt at a rawhide back with the intention of adding skins after. I chased the ring great with no violations but thought to add the rawhide because of the skins. Well… it worked out okay but I feel the rawhide was a little on the thick side even though it’s deer rawhide and I have some unpleasant marks from application that I want to get rid of before the skins. Is it okay to sand it down a bit when it’s completely dry or would should I just add the skins so I don’t make a bigger mess?
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You can sand rawhide. With a good back ring rawhide isn't necessary and by adding skins over that you are adding excess physical weight which will take away from the performance.
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You said the back's not violated so in theory the rawhide isn't nevessary for the integrity of the bow. A little sanding should be fine.
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Thanks, I knew the rawhide wasn’t necessary but I didn’t think I could put skins over the back without rawhide or sinew. In all honesty I also kind of wanted to try my hand at backing for the first time. I guess it’s OK then to go ahead and sand it down a little bit to reduce it and take away any other Tool marks I had on there
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For what it’s worth for future reference, I have 3 osage bows that I glued snake skins directly to the osage back. I sized the bows back with a coat of TB111, then coated both the bow and the snake skin with a thin coat of TB111 and applied. Works wonderfully.
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Yes you didn't need the rawhide so sand it quite thin. It will help the bow a little. Maybe start with 80 grit, remove the meat then go down to 120/240.
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For future work if your rawhide is too thick you should thin it by sanding the flesh side only before you back your stave.
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well I will never use tb111 on skins again.. works great but if you ever need to remove skins .. forget about it.. I got an osage recurve... bullsnake skinned.. tb111.. I heard a tick the other day and now I can't even inspect the back till I get these skins off.. if it was hide glue I could just heat with heat gun get it started and use water to dilute the glue .. but with titebond Im screwed.. gut