Winter project - Yew Recurve bow

[Stiks-N-Strings]

Been following this from the start. Great build along and fantastic craftsmanship.

 I am as excited about seeing the final product as I get when finishing one up in my own shop.

[Gordon]

Now I am going to process the sinew in preparation to using it for backing the bow.  I am using dried elk leg sinew and will process 10 pieces to make sure that I do not run out of material while backing the bow.  I first break the fibers up by pounding with a hammer on a hard surface.  I don’t think it matters much what the surface is made of as long as it is hard. Some folks use a hardwood stump, Native Americans used flat stones – I use a small anvil. I make sure the surface of both the anvil and hammer are free of contaminants by cleaning with acetone.





After I’ve loosened the fibers I pull the tendon apart using pliers. If the piece is really stubborn I’ll clamp one of the loose ends in my bench vice and using pliers and some elbow grease pull the tendon apart. I’ll keep reducing the piece until I have a pile of strands about the thickness of ¼” rope.





After I have pounded and separated all of the tendons I further reduce the fibers to about the thickness of a pencil lead. In the process of reducing the fibers I sort them by length. It’s important to do this because I’m going to need various lengths of sinew fibers when I back the bow.



Next up – applying sinew backing

[osage outlaw]

Gordon, your build-a-longs are great.  I am really looking forward to seeing how you glue the sinew down.  Thanks for sharing this with us.

[Gordon]

To be honest, this is likely to be the weakest part of my build-a-long because I've not sinew backed many bows. So if anyone wants to contribute helpful hints please feel free to do so.

[Keenan]

Gordon, Looking great so far.    One thing that helps is rolling the sinew while pounding. It will help loosen the outer casing and breaks up better. I use a hammer with a slightly larger head (About 2lbs.) and just let the weight of the hammer do the work. I will roll and pound until the whole tendon appears swollen and is flexable. Then I start shredding. You are absolutely right about needing the smaller strips as well. It will help to keep from having joint overlap in the same places.
 I always have the crock pot beside while stripping and just throw in the casings and any scraps that I don't want to mess with.  You have a great buildalong going here!

[Gordon]

Thank Keenan, I will definitely use that trick next time. I kept my scraps - I figure I will make some glue from it.

[Gus]

Pardon Sir.

Have you weighed out your processed sinew?
I'd be interested to know how much you use in backing this bow.
Maybe weigh the processed sinew before, and then weigh what is left over after...

Still trying to get a handle on roughly how much sinew to expect to use in backing a bow.
More specially when sending processed sinew out to someone for their bow backing needs.

Thank You,

-gus

[ErictheViking]

coming along nicely Gordon, love the fact you are showing the sinewing process.

[juniper junkie]

loving this build-a-long. great job on the bow so far, but I had no doubt from the start. your work is always first class. are  you going to take this bow into the eagles this year?

[bow101]

Unreal, Great built-a-long.
Just finishing up a selfbow from a limb, not sire if I have the patience or expertise to do a self bow from a stave.

[Shaun]

What a treat to find this in progress after a 7 week holiday from the computer. Great looking bow project and wonderful build along and photos.

Are you concerned about the knot at the edge of the bottom fade? Is it solid or encased? Will you leave it as is or consider drilling it out and using a Dutchman?

Kudos for doing the build along in real time - feel like I'm right there with you...

[Gordon]

Gus, I have not weighed the sinew, but I will try to do that before applying the backing.

Dave, for my Eagle Cap trip this year I'm actually favoring a short osage bow that I recently built. But if this one turns out well, who knows...

Shaun, I'm not too concerned about that knot. It seems solid and I have dealt with larger edge knots with yew in the past with no problem.

I plan on applying the first course of sinew this weekend. Stay tuned for more pictures.

Thank you all for the really nice comments.

[Mark Anderson]

I can't believe I've missed this 'till just now. A marvel to say the least.
Very well taught sir, you are among the greats for sure!
Mark

[Prarie Bowyer]

I rough out the bow’s thickness taper with a hatchet using the taper lines as my guide.



PB Just fainted. . . .

ACK!  I'm 1/2 a mind to buy you a band saw so you can seend me the belly sliver scraps end cuts and such.  Thats pricy mulch.

Question.  what is that wood handled spokeshave.  It looks like a scraper shave. 
Nother question:  I see short pieces of yew floating around the shop... what happens to those? 

Ya know what would be kinda neat.  A YEW bow fishing spool.  Swirly crazy grain is perfectly good in this application. . . .If you'd ever want a Yew one I can turn it for you.  I have some willow ones right now.

[randman]

Great build along Gordon. I am watching it with anticipation. Hey what'd ya do to your foot to get it to turn all black like that?  Or are you just part gorilla