Author Topic: degreasing before sinew  (Read 4918 times)

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Offline bubby

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degreasing before sinew
« on: January 17, 2012, 09:19:13 pm »
i was wondering what you guy's that sinew alot use to degrease your bow prior to sinew?
the first one i did i used lye,{drain cleaner}, but it's a bear to clean up and get rid of, i was thinking dawn dish soap but wasn't shure if it would do a good enough job on it's own, thank's, Bub
failure is an option, everyone fails, it's how you handle it that matters.
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Offline JW_Halverson

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Re: degreasing before sinew
« Reply #1 on: January 17, 2012, 09:21:32 pm »
I've used Dawn dish detergent in warm water on osage before.  The sinew job is still stuck down and working fine 6 years later.  The water also raises the grain and opens it up so the glue works down in a little better, too (in my opinion).  Your mileage may vary.
Guns have triggers. Bicycles have wheels. Trees and bows have wooden limbs.

Offline Dean Marlow

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Re: degreasing before sinew
« Reply #2 on: January 17, 2012, 09:26:38 pm »
Just got done putting 2 coarses on and I used Acetone to degrease it. Dean

Offline paulsemp

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Re: degreasing before sinew
« Reply #3 on: January 17, 2012, 09:26:54 pm »
acetone, not very natural but has worked well for me. evaporates quickly and leaves no trace. also use it on all wood glue joints.

Offline Eric Garza

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Re: degreasing before sinew
« Reply #4 on: January 17, 2012, 10:10:42 pm »
I don't do a lot of sinew backing anymore, but back when I did I degreased with dish soap and I never had a problem with the backing lifting. I never noticed that one brand of dish soap did a better job than any other.

Offline osage outlaw

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Re: degreasing before sinew
« Reply #5 on: January 17, 2012, 10:40:26 pm »
Dawn and acetone
I started out with nothin' and I still got most of it left

Offline seabass

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Re: degreasing before sinew
« Reply #6 on: January 17, 2012, 10:49:59 pm »
i used acetone and it work really well.wipe on,wipe off.
Middletown,Ohio

Offline Blacktail

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Re: degreasing before sinew
« Reply #7 on: January 17, 2012, 11:18:01 pm »
finger nail polish remover...

Offline toomanyknots

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Re: degreasing before sinew
« Reply #8 on: January 18, 2012, 12:21:10 am »
I got a question, What do you guys do to degrease and remove contaminants from your glue? Also, what would make a sinew back crack all to heck? Would it be crappy glue?
"The way of heaven is like the bending of a bow-
 the upper part is pressed down,
 the lower part is raised up,
 the part that has too much is reduced,
 the part that has too little is increased."

- Tao Te Ching, 77, A new translation by Victor H. Mair

Offline DRon knife

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Re: degreasing before sinew
« Reply #9 on: January 18, 2012, 12:25:19 am »
around the painting trade we use denatured alcohol for EVERYTHING,raises the grain,degreases and evaporates in seconds with no residue,a lot cheaper than acetone and healthier!! I've never done sinew before but if architects spec it for degreasing well.....   Ron

Offline Pat B

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Re: degreasing before sinew
« Reply #10 on: January 18, 2012, 12:28:44 am »
On the last sinew backed osage I did I washed the freshly toothed back with Dawn then rinsed with boiling water. I began sinewing as soon after that as I could.
  TMK, sounds like you used too much glue, its too thick.
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline Eric Garza

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Re: degreasing before sinew
« Reply #11 on: January 18, 2012, 12:52:48 am »
TMK, I agree with Pat. Sounds like your glue was too thick. I like mine about the consistency of warm olive oil.

As far as ending up with clean glue, garbage in, garbage out. If you put a lot of nasty stuff in the pot, you'll get nasty stuff out no matter what you do to clean it. All of the sinew that goes into my glue pot is as clean as the sinew I'd use to back a bow or wrap an arrow. That way there is no fat and no meat to contaminate the glue. It ends up nearly transparent, sets solidly and quickly and is stronger than anything I've found for sale anywhere.

Offline toomanyknots

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Re: degreasing before sinew
« Reply #12 on: January 18, 2012, 01:11:46 am »
You guys are so right, you have no idea how right you are. My glue was like a thick paste. Like mashed potatos. :laugh: I feel like I can finally see the light. I have so many sinew scraps, and I thought it was the sinew and not me...  :laugh:
"The way of heaven is like the bending of a bow-
 the upper part is pressed down,
 the lower part is raised up,
 the part that has too much is reduced,
 the part that has too little is increased."

- Tao Te Ching, 77, A new translation by Victor H. Mair

Offline Pat B

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Re: degreasing before sinew
« Reply #13 on: January 18, 2012, 01:19:04 am »
I also wash the shreaded sinew in Dawn and warm water then hydrate it well in warm water before using it.
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline Dazv

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Re: degreasing before sinew
« Reply #14 on: January 18, 2012, 07:33:23 am »
i was taught to use oven cleaner.