Main Discussion Area > HowTo's and Build-a-longs
Sinew Bowstring
Hartung:
I’d like to put this up to the bows forum because I’m afraid that there isn’t enough traffic in the how to’s section.
In this thread http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,272.0.html , Billy say’s that:
“When I make my sinew strings, I soak the sinew strands, then chew it so it's really soft. Then I twist up the sinew into the string. You will have to add splices almost constantly. Then I stretch it, and while it's wet, I take a razor blade or a sharp flake of flint and cut off the splices that stick out of the string. Then I let it dry with a weight tied to one end so it get somewhat pre-stretched.”
I also would like to make a sinew bowstring. And this is the shortest and yet the best how-to description that I’ve seen so far. You also say: “I've had a few failures with sinew, but I'm trying to work out the bugs”.
Please allow me to ask some questions:
1. Don’t the different strands dry out before you have finished the string?
2. Did you find out why some of your sinew had failed?
3. When you twist up your sinew, do you do a reverse wrapped twist?
4. If so, of how many reverse wrapped strands is your string composed of?
Thanks for your help!
jamie:
i can answer some of these. .sinew stays plenty moistby the time ya finish.
yes i use a reverse wrap
i dont count strands just keep it as even as possible and when its wet id say it is around 3/16th of an inch thick and dries to around an 1/8th inch. even my worst strings have held up longer than rawhide or some of the plant fiber strings ive made. peace
Hartung:
“i dont count strands just keep it as even as possible”
That is interesting! Does that mean you only twist one singly ply (strand) string by taking two more or less think bundles of sinew and reverse wrap them? If that is the case that would save lots of time compared to making a string out of several strands.
rdb:
--- Quote from: Hartung on August 10, 2007, 11:17:16 am ---“When I make my sinew strings, I soak the sinew strands, then chew it so it's really soft. Then I twist up the sinew into the string. You will have to add splices almost constantly. Then I stretch it, and while it's wet, I take a razor blade or a sharp flake of flint and cut off the splices that stick out of the string. Then I let it dry with a weight tied to one end so it get somewhat pre-stretched.”
I also would like to make a sinew bowstring. And this is the shortest and yet the best how-to description that I’ve seen so far. You also say: “I've had a few failures with sinew, but I'm trying to work out the bugs”.
Please allow me to ask some questions:
1. Don’t the different strands dry out before you have finished the string?
2. Did you find out why some of your sinew had failed?
3. When you twist up your sinew, do you do a reverse wrapped twist?
4. If so, of how many reverse wrapped strands is your string composed of?
--- End quote ---
1. Last week, this was definitely the case for me. I was however making the string outside in mid 90 degree temps and a slight breeze....and, I'm slower than grandma with 4 broken fingers. At any rate, I had to keep dipping the end of my string in water as the sinew was getting stiff (dry). When I finally got the string done, the end where I started from felt completely dry and I had to soak the entire string in a bucket of water for 10 mins before hanging and adding weight for the drying process. I haven't had this problem when working inside during the winter months though.
4. Like Jamie, I don't count the strands. Upon starting, I just keep adding sinew until it's the thickness I'm looking for. I then try to maintain that thickness by grabbing the piece of sinew I think will maintain that whether it be a bit thicker piece or a highly tapered and thin strand.
Though no expert on sinew strings, it has been my experience with plant-fiber cordage that many small strands makes for a smoother, better looking and stronger string than does a string consisting of fewer and larger strands. It's more work but you get what you put in to it.
Lastly, I have soaked then chewed the sinew prior to twisting as well as simply soaked. Chewing makes sense to me....especially if it might mean the difference between eating or not...but psychologically, I find it a tad troubling for some reason. :-\
Hartung:
Rdb,
Your post is very helpful too. So thank you for your contribution. Concerning question #4, ok, I know, what you mean.
I add this picture: the left sinew is pounded and pulled apart Achilles tendon with still a lot of sinew fibres attached to each other (scale is in cm). The right sinew bundle is combed sinew with a small strand (red arrow) showing how it looks like.
One more question:
5. For manufacturing your string, do you comb the sinew and than use the combed fibres? Or do you just pound and pull the sinew apart and then use these roughly pulled apart fibres for making your string?
To all the other bowyers and sinew string makers: please don’t hesitate to jump into the discussion to give us your experience.
Thanks to all!
PS: Hope your grandma is well :D
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
Go to full version