alternatives to sinew

[chuckp]

Are there any real good alternatives to sinew as a backing?
A material that would have sinews stretching and strength characteristics?
I don't want to re-invent the wheel, but I'd like know if a  readily available substitute is out there.

[NTD]

Good Bamboo?  I don't know never done a sinew backed bow but from what I understand it's in a league of it's own.  There are plenty of options for backing a bow but I don't think any of them have all the properties of sinew.

[Pat B]

Nothing can compete with sinew as far as I know. It is in a league of it's own.

[JW_Halverson]

Fiberglass was invented to do what sinew and hide glue does....but they have yet to find something that shrinks up and pre-stresses like sinew.  So, no, there is no equivalent.

[WillAdams]

At one time silk was advocated, but it has to be stretched before gluing:

http://books.google.com/books?id=oScDAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA140&dq=silk%20backing%20for%20bows%20popular&pg=PA140#v=onepage&q&f=false

[El Destructo]

Thats pretty slick Will...I even bookmarked that site!

[walkabout]

i agree its pretty cool to read some of those old articles. that arrow looks about an inch short though.

[barney]

Sinew is kind of unique in that it's chemically similar to the animal glue that's used to hold it down (sinew makes good glue too). Animal glue and sinew polymerise at a molecular level and fuse together (if cured for long enough, they become one - Turkish flight bows were often left for three years to cure). Because sinew is laid down wet it will also conform to the back of the bow, unlike a hard backing. The natural shrinkage whilst curing will also pull the bow into reflex, which is good for early draw weight and arrow speed.

Having said that, there's probably little point in laying sinew on a bow over 60 inches or so because it's heavy and will diminish performance. Short bows require a greater skill to hit the target, too.

I do love making bows with it though

Dylan

[finnfoto]

Denny mears. or   Half eye     would be the guys to answer this question.  I know Denny uses elk hide at times for backing. Which is something I have never done. So I'm not really sure of it's properties as far as stretching and tightening go.

However I think he use's it for a reason other then cosmetic.

Halfeye. could probably back  a bow with anything and make it look awesome and perform well. lol

[profsaffel]

Has any of you tried artificial sinew? Would it even be worth trying?

[HoBow]

Profsaffel- not as a backing-  not any of the same characteristics 

[JW_Halverson]

But under certain circumstances it looks like sinew.  So you can have all the attitude, look, and style, but without the problems of all that nasty stuff called "performance".

[sailordad]

But under certain circumstances it looks like sinew.  So you can have all the attitude, look, and style, but without the problems of all that nasty stuff called "performance".

ive never thougth it looked like sinew
i can always tell when someone uses that fake crap

[El Destructo]

                                                                         Artificial Sinew is just Glorified Waxed Dental Floss....period.........JMO

[profsaffel]

Ok, so how 'bout backing a bow with waxed dental floss... just kidding.

Yeah, I knew there had to be a few reasons why no one was bringing that up, but I thought this thread was as good as any to ask if any of you had even thought to try artificial. Carry on, carry on.