Author Topic: raw hide backing  (Read 1779 times)

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Offline RBLusthaus

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raw hide backing
« on: January 30, 2013, 02:00:11 pm »
How do you all finish your rawhide backings?  I am not interested in covering them w snake or fish skins - and dont want to leave it as is under coats of tru oil or poly.   Any suggestions or cool looks in your bag of tricks?   If not, I guess I am left with paint?

Russ

Offline Pat B

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Re: raw hide backing
« Reply #1 on: January 30, 2013, 02:06:30 pm »
I seal rawhide with Tru-Oil and it makes somewhat transparent in a splotchy kind of way that I really like. You can stain or dye rawhide. You could even tie dye it with a Grateful Dead effect if you wanted. Rawhide make a great pallet for all sorts of decoration options.
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline PEARL DRUMS

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Re: raw hide backing
« Reply #2 on: January 30, 2013, 02:33:30 pm »
Stain makes it look too cool. It almost has a camo look to it as it only soaks it up here and there. I love it.
Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught will we realize we cannot eat money.

Offline bowhntineverythingnh03743

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Re: raw hide backing
« Reply #3 on: January 30, 2013, 04:52:09 pm »
I just used regular chestnut stain. You can see the different color in the lower limb the best and down the entire limb it changes because of the way the rawhide is put on. still shows the grain of the wood but mixes it up a bit. This was my first bow I backed with rawhide or backed ever. I can try adding another picture later but right now I am at work and this is all I can get.



Justin

Offline Squirrelslayer

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Re: raw hide backing
« Reply #4 on: January 30, 2013, 06:49:14 pm »
i saw a guy who done some native american designs on the back. looked pretty cool. why no snake skins?
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Offline RBLusthaus

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Re: raw hide backing
« Reply #5 on: January 30, 2013, 07:16:28 pm »
why no snake skins?

SS - because the guy who is getting this one does  not like the look of skins. 

Scott D - - Thank you for looking that up - - I had never seen that before - - truly outstanding - kinda along the line of PatB suggestion to go Grateful Dead Tie Dye - - which I am seriously considering. 

Thank you all for the advice.  Now to make some decisions.  I think I need to do some test pieces. 

Offline Shondy55

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Re: raw hide backing
« Reply #6 on: January 30, 2013, 10:43:24 pm »
i did a bow a while back with a rawhide backing and i used black paint and painted on some tribal designs and that looked really cool because the black paint really pops off the light colored rawhide. 
Go O' seeker and may your quest be not in vain

Offline aaron

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Re: raw hide backing
« Reply #7 on: January 30, 2013, 11:57:14 pm »
my new favorite stain for rawhide, braintan and wood is vinegar plus iron which makes a grey to black color.
http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,36145.msg475095.html#msg475095
http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,25949.msg348723.html#msg348723
« Last Edit: January 31, 2013, 12:02:25 am by aaron »
Ilwaco, Washington, USA
"Good wood makes great bows, but bad wood makes great bowyers"