Author Topic: Recurve, setback, sinew. My first time with any.  (Read 3664 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline MattZA

  • Member
  • Posts: 191
  • Formerly MattTheClueless
Re: Recurve, setback, sinew. My first time with any.
« Reply #15 on: May 22, 2019, 09:56:36 pm »
Yup, I will save the sinew. Should I just soak it in water to release it from the glue?

It was a local hardwood called Leadwood. Combretum Imberbe. Extremely dense (considerably more than Ipe). It does seem like it has great potential though - since it was pulling 46# at 25". Effectively zero set, and 1 1/8" wide and 46" long before steaming the bends in.
Unprofessional bowyer. Johannesburg, South Africa.

Offline simk

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,159
Re: Recurve, setback, sinew. My first time with any.
« Reply #16 on: May 23, 2019, 12:08:51 am »
Sincere condolences. Just soak it in water for a while - maybe takes several days to solve the glue...
46# at 25" and 46" long, stiff handle sure demands a lot from the wood. Can't be so bad - probably worth another try  :BB
--- the queen rules ----

Offline MattZA

  • Member
  • Posts: 191
  • Formerly MattTheClueless
Re: Recurve, setback, sinew. My first time with any.
« Reply #17 on: May 23, 2019, 01:10:59 am »
Thanks Simon,

As you say, I was asking an awful lot from the wood. The handle was stiff, and the recurves were too, so I had approximately 17" of working limb per limb. But then again, with an SG of 1.22 and a Janka Hardness of 15880N, I don't know if I'll be able to work a bigger piece without breaking both wrists!

You suggest I just soak it in plain water? Goodness me that's going to be a nightmare to then put all the sinew back in bundles  (A)

Unprofessional bowyer. Johannesburg, South Africa.

Offline DC

  • Member
  • Posts: 10,396
Re: Recurve, setback, sinew. My first time with any.
« Reply #18 on: May 23, 2019, 07:11:41 am »
Would it be possible to soak the sinew just enough it off as a single piece? Store it like that and then rehydrate it just enough to be flexible and glue it on the next bow?

Offline MattZA

  • Member
  • Posts: 191
  • Formerly MattTheClueless
Re: Recurve, setback, sinew. My first time with any.
« Reply #19 on: May 23, 2019, 10:40:50 pm »
Besides where it obviously snapped, yes I think it should be. The sinew is in one single piece, just with a neat snap.

I think I'll do that.

By the way, I made myself a draw knife out of a cheap old backsaw blade yesterday. I'll post about it in Globalmark's topic in the How-To section.
Unprofessional bowyer. Johannesburg, South Africa.