Rawhide backing

[Lee Lobbestael]

I made an Osage bow with extremely thin rings and I noticed that it popped several splinters on the back. I was planning to sand the back smooth and back it with rawhide. Do you guys think this will hold together fine?? I was going to use a rawhide dog bone toy for rawhide. Have any of you tried this?

[Pat B]

Lee, the problem with dog chews is the thickness but you can thin it by sanding.
 Rawhide is not a miracle cure but it will help keep splinters down.

[bjrogg]

I'm thinking you don't want to sand back smooth. You'll give up more of ring and a rough surface is better for glue.
Bjrogg

[Lee Lobbestael]

Ok what about a fabric backing? Like burlap or canvas?

[loon]

why not a bamboo backing
I'm thinking of paper backing the red oak bow I'll make, glued with hide glue. how much draw weight is your bow?

[Lee Lobbestael]

Well the bow is already tillered and shooting and it also undulates and dips and dives a bit. So a flat rigid backing doesnt seem like a good option at this point. I would love to use a fabric of some type because of how easy it is to apply.

[Pat B]

Can you not find deer or goat rawhide?

[George Tsoukalas]

The few times I used rawhide, Lee, I bought it from 3 Rivers. It was fairly easy to install and was ready to go after soaking. I used Titebond 2 but would use Titebond 3 these days. Jawge

[Eric Garza]

You might also reach out to the community via the trade blanket to see if someone has a couple rawhide strips they'll trade you.

[Lee Lobbestael]

Ok thanks guys!

[bradsmith2010]

yes thin goat or deer would be the best way to go,,
it should hold your bow together,,, it will for sure be better than no backing at all,,