Author Topic: how long to dry sinew?  (Read 3429 times)

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Offline stuckinthemud

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how long to dry sinew?
« on: December 18, 2015, 10:08:37 am »
Having obtained some beef achiles tendons about a week ago, I hung them to dry from the roof beams of my tin-roof garage.  Its rained every day since and average temperature is about 54degF (14C). They don't stink so much any more, but any idea how many weeks they'll take to cure?  Drying them in the house is NOT an option :laugh

Offline PEARL DRUMS

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Re: how long to dry sinew?
« Reply #1 on: December 18, 2015, 10:11:32 am »
They will be rock hard and amber color when they are dried down.
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 stuckinthemud

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Re: how long to dry sinew?
« Reply #2 on: December 18, 2015, 10:22:34 am »
Its taken a week for them to get a little crusty on the edges, but no real changes apparent, so I 'm guessing they'll need at least a month, is this going to cause any problems? At least most bugs are sleeping at the moment :)

Offline lebhuntfish

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Re: how long to dry sinew?
« Reply #3 on: December 18, 2015, 10:46:54 am »
If it's too cold out  you could freez them then set them out when it warms up. Shouldn't take more than about a week. I've dried deer sinew over night when it's 60 degrees. That is unless you are wanting to use them now!  :laugh:
Patrick
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Missouri, where all the best wood is! Well maybe not the straightest!

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Offline JoJoDapyro

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Re: how long to dry sinew?
« Reply #4 on: December 18, 2015, 11:43:18 am »
You dont have a closet you could hide them in?
If you always do what you always did you'll always get what you always got.
27 inch draw, right handed. Bow building and Knapping.

Offline stuckinthemud

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Re: how long to dry sinew?
« Reply #5 on: December 18, 2015, 11:56:46 am »
tried the freezing thing but they were removed for the sake of marital harmony >:D could maybe sneak them into the loft

Offline Ed Brooks

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Re: how long to dry sinew?
« Reply #6 on: December 18, 2015, 03:40:51 pm »
You dont have a closet you could hide them in?
LOL
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Centralia WA,

Offline PatM

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Re: how long to dry sinew?
« Reply #7 on: December 18, 2015, 04:06:46 pm »
 It helps to carefully split larger tendons open if your drying conditions are too slow.

Offline PEARL DRUMS

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Re: how long to dry sinew?
« Reply #8 on: December 18, 2015, 06:30:58 pm »
A fan helps.
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 Dakota Kid

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Re: how long to dry sinew?
« Reply #9 on: December 19, 2015, 04:05:19 am »
Hide them behind the furnace, dryer, fridge, above your work lights or any appliance that puts off heat. If you can get the fan pearlie suggested on top of it, you'll be all set. This year mine took 3 days by the furnace. I just put the first layer on a bow that was waiting for this year's round of sinew.

If the wifey doesn't appreciate the rustic decor you can cover it with a few layers of cheesecloth and it shouldn't hurt the drying much. It won't be as much of an eyesore I'd imagine. My wife also gets rid of my sinew, except she steals it to make string for necklaces after she saw it was stronger than her hemp. 
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Offline stuckinthemud

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Re: how long to dry sinew?
« Reply #10 on: December 19, 2015, 08:37:41 am »
Sinew now behind the freezer  :D Thanks DK