Canvas Backing

[Christian Soldier]

I recently came upon a good supply of heavy duty canvas. Can it be used on tension weak woods (like sassafras) as a suitable backing?

[DarkSoul]

Short answer: yes

[RBLusthaus]

How much canvas do you have?  Say, enough to skin a Teepee with?

Russ

[Christian Soldier]

Not a real 20 person Teepee but maybe a 2 man. 

A good bit to say the least. Would it be better to apply with hide glue or TBIII?

[briarjumper12]

I figured canvas would be too thick. Maybe someone who's used it can expound. I've at every fabric store within 80 miles of my house and can find no silk or linen. I got a red oak board bow in the process that has been backed with brown paper that I salvaged from a shipping box that my Albion Crecy came in. It was long enough to not have to splice.

[tgtmatt]

Briar go to a good will or consignment store. They usually have tons of women's dresses made of silk. I got myself a dress from there.

[Pat B]

Canvas will work as a backing but will reduce the performance of your bow because of the excess physical weight. Canvas is cotton and will soak up lots of glue when you apply it to the bow. With thinner, stronger materials like linen or silk they won't use as much glue to adhere them to the bow and their physical weight is less than canvas so the overall physical weight will be lower.

[Christian Soldier]

how much will performance decrease with canvas? like 3fps or 15fps?

Also, any pics or links to canvas backed bows woul be very helpfull. 

[Pat B]

I have no idea how much. I wouldn't use canvas in the first place. Lots of other, better options.
Do an experiment with different backings and let us know the results. With enough research and some pics you could write an article for Primitive Archer Magazine.