Author Topic: Ripstop Cotton as a backing material?  (Read 2285 times)

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Offline 15DLongbow

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Ripstop Cotton as a backing material?
« on: February 23, 2012, 08:04:53 pm »
So, on the bow Im making I'm planning on giving to my cousin as a gift, He's gonna be graduating marine basic training, Now I had the idea of instead of using silk or linen to back it, I was wondering if the Rip-stop Cotton from a pair Marine MARPAT Camo pants would serve well as a backing?

Offline DarkSoul

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Re: Ripstop Cotton as a backing material?
« Reply #1 on: February 23, 2012, 08:23:41 pm »
Cotton is a very lousy backing material. Also for strings it is no good. It is relatively weak, even if spun into decent looking yarn. It might look good though, and keep a small splinter down. But I wouldn't rely on cotton as a backing for a bow with violated grain. Linen or silk would be a better fabric when integrity is required.
"Sonuit contento nervus ab arcu."
Ovid, Metamorphoses VI-286

Offline 15DLongbow

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Re: Ripstop Cotton as a backing material?
« Reply #2 on: February 23, 2012, 09:23:41 pm »
the wood i have is a board bow, has 3 growth rings through the entire thickness and has only 1 run off, so it shouldnt need a backing, i was originally gonna try it unbacked

Offline bubby

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Re: Ripstop Cotton as a backing material?
« Reply #3 on: February 23, 2012, 09:28:12 pm »
if you don't need to back it just try and get the lightest weight material you can , Bub
failure is an option, everyone fails, it's how you handle it that matters.
The few the proud the 27🏹

Offline Bernal

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Re: Ripstop Cotton as a backing material?
« Reply #4 on: February 24, 2012, 11:08:38 am »
If it doesn't need a backing then don't back it. There's no rule that says you have to.

Offline bubby

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Re: Ripstop Cotton as a backing material?
« Reply #5 on: February 24, 2012, 05:07:38 pm »
i think he wanted the camo as his cousin is a Marine, Bub
failure is an option, everyone fails, it's how you handle it that matters.
The few the proud the 27🏹

Offline Tortoise

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Re: Ripstop Cotton as a backing material?
« Reply #6 on: February 25, 2012, 02:49:35 am »
These are BDU pants correct? I have a pair, the fabric is very strong, and I bet it would make a good backing.
-Peter
Arizona

Offline kleinpm

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Re: Ripstop Cotton as a backing material?
« Reply #7 on: February 27, 2012, 11:09:16 am »
They sell 1.1 oz rip stop in MARPAT. Its nylon ripstop (for hammocks and stuff), weighs 1.1 oz per square yard, and only costs a few dollars.
I think 1.1 ripstop would work great as a backing, and would look extremely cool in MARPAT.

Patrick