sinew backed hickory

[Spotted Dog]

I just finished sinew backing a hickory bow.  50" long , 1"x 1" at handle fading down to 1/2 " w. x 3/8" thick.
1 1/2 layers of deer and elk sinew. This is my second but my first with hide glue. I used my moms old crock pot.
Glad I did it in the garage. Now how long does it take to dry and be able to tiller and shoot? I tillered it before
the sinew too.

Dog

[Pat B]

Dog, it all depends on the R/H of your area. I gave each layer 1 month(I did 3 layers)but we live in a relatively humid area.Others may have different experiences.

[Spotted Dog]

 I live in Missouri. So I need to wait. Going to get rain soon.

Dog

[Spotted Dog]

 If I were to want more layers how soon do you need to do that ?

[Redhand]

Dog  it is pretty dry out here in Utah.  I usually let my bows cure at least 3 months before I start messing with them.  Sometimes I wait 2 weeks in between applying layers of sinew or sometimes I just apply all at once.  It just depends on what kind of mood I am in.  Lol 

[PatM]

If I were to want more layers how soon do you need to do that ?

  Doesn't matter. Hide glue can be re-activated forever. There isn't much point in shooting a bow extensively and adding sinew later though.
   

[Spotted Dog]

 Ok I went back over with a thin layer of elk leg sinew. Looks likesjf389tuy389tn3uewhyfqjhsv`1yhwdbmnnnnmmnm !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I guess I shouldn't have touched it. Now wait till it dries  and level it off.

[Swamp Thang]

Ok I went back over with a thin layer of elk leg sinew. Looks likesjf389tuy389tn3uewhyfqjhsv`1yhwdbmnnnnmmnm !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I guess I shouldn't have touched it. Now wait till it dries  and level it off.

There's a thread detailing applying smooth sinew backing not sure if you eyeballed it yet 

[Stick Bender]

Some times it looks bad after applying  but sinew shrinks a pretty fair amount  you can also sand it smooth after it dries and add another layer I try to make the last layer the smoothiest since that's the outer part of the back ,look foward to seeing your finished bow. You will love hickory & sinew .

[Spotted Dog]

 I will let it dry and scrape it a little.  I should have left it alone. Looked great before.   

[BowEd]

It'll be fine Dog.Kind of a rule of thumb while sinewing.If you can make it look fairly smooth right after application it will be very smooth in a week from shrinking.Just keep a few sinew strands around to fill cracks and the hide glue in frig to chill and see what happens.Keep it in a cool place in the beginning day or so for it to gell up good and proper etc.Then to a warmer place to dry later.

[PatM]

 Is it the "made easy"  part that makes people avoid it?

[Spotted Dog]

 I tried it. The sheet material stuck to it. ?

[PatM]

You did it wrong then. Hard to say how since I thought it was  pretty clear. Probably let it soak the cloth and then let it gel or dry too much.

[BowEd]

Pat M...I've used the method you've shown on here.It works great.After an all at once sinewing or at the last session of sinewing.Taking the cotton strips off before it gells or making sure it is wet before taking it off and after it has been molded to what you want.