Primitive Archer

That's awesome none of them broke! I really like the greenish brown, I'd love to make a set of 8 just of those. I would have guessed the black was something else labelled as poplar if it wasn't for the blotches we've been seeing. Now I'm not sure, but I like them.

I saw thay and it looks awesome. Just so you know, complete build alongs can get you entered into the end of year giveaway if you submit it when done. This single bow build can be broken into 2 build alongs, one for the sinew application, and the other for the bow build. If you had a mind to breake it in two and submit it to qualify for the end of year giveaway

I have an old leather jacket that ive had for over 20 years. I pulled it out the box yesterday and the leather has gone brittle and dry. The collar has cracked and will need work. How do I go about getting it soft again?

You have to look at how the fibers run in the bark.
In this direction, bark is quite tensile strenght
In birch and cherry, the fibers run around the tree.
It is also important that the bark is very thin (< 1 mm) for backing. Birch bark can be easily divided into individual layers along the fibers.
Birch bark provides very good protection against moisture when used as backing over sinew. Composite bows were often wrapped entirely in  thin birch bark.
The best glue for the thin bark over sinew is hide glue.
First pic is for elm or hickory or cedar: the fibers in the bark run along the tree
Second pic: the fibers run around the tree ( birch, cherry).

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