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Author Topic: best time to back a bow  (Read 2237 times)

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Offline furdressing1

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best time to back a bow
« on: April 05, 2011, 05:57:10 pm »
What is the best time to back a bow? After tillering is complete, after it is roughed to shape and tillering has not started, halfway through? I want to use rawhide as I don't have any sinew. Does the type of backing matter as to when it is applied?
  Thanks
   Dale
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Offline Eric Garza

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Re: best time to back a bow
« Reply #1 on: April 05, 2011, 06:14:43 pm »
The honest reply is:  before it breaks.

I tend to back the bow after it's been largely tillered, but others back before they even start tillering and their bows seem to come out fine. 
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Offline DarkSoul

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Re: best time to back a bow
« Reply #2 on: April 05, 2011, 09:02:12 pm »
"Does the type of backing matter as to when it is applied?"
Yes, it does.

Most of the time, somewhere early in the tillering process is a good time. A wooden backing often needs to be applied earlier, as the backing will seriously effect tiller and increase drawweight. A rawhide backing is often applied at or right after floor tillering.

A light backing that is mainly for looks (snakeskin, silk, feather, bark...) is usually applied at the very end, when tillering is finished.
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Offline zenmonkeyman

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Re: best time to back a bow
« Reply #3 on: April 05, 2011, 11:25:04 pm »
Make sure you do any heat-treating before backing.
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Offline crooketarrow

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Re: best time to back a bow
« Reply #4 on: April 06, 2011, 09:49:55 am »
    I very seldom back bows anymore. It depended on the backing. But I'd get mine to floor tiller if I was putting on wood,boo, or sinew. Some other backings that did'nt afect the tiller and could wait. I'D wait untill I stained or varinish the bow put on then finish over the backing.
  ZEN is right it your going to use any heat do it before you add the backing.
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Offline George Tsoukalas

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Re: best time to back a bow
« Reply #5 on: April 06, 2011, 12:09:28 pm »
When I do a backing it is before I string the stave with the short string. Jawge
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Offline furdressing1

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Re: best time to back a bow
« Reply #6 on: April 06, 2011, 12:43:08 pm »
Thanks Guys, I appreciate the help.
  Dale
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