Clay and sinew

[OTDEAN]

Hi,

Can anyone tell me how native americans used clay to protect the sinew on bows from moisture and humidity.  Did they just put it on after the hide glue and sinew had dried or did they add the clay with the sinew and glue as one mix when everything was all sloppy and guey?

Cheers

Guys

[Pat B]

I've never heard of it but I guess the clay would be mixed with the hide glue somehow making it somewhat waterproof. The clay would crack and fall off when the bow was drawn if added on top. The type of clay might make a difference too.

[OTDEAN]

A lakota bowyer (Richard Giago) all credit to him, has told me that the clay was rubbed in over the sinew so I am really interested to figure this one out.  I have little sinew backing experience but am interested in learning how first nation peoples made their bows and this gentleman makes some lovely bows using traditional techniques.   I am just curious at what stage the clay was added.  If it was before the hide glue has dried or if it was put on top and wondered if anyone had completed this process.

[PatM]

Couldn't you ask him?

[OTDEAN]

Yes I have but its on facebook so cant really ask in depth.  I found a post on there though where someone said that brick dust or clay dust added to hide glue before its used to glue sinew down will protect it from humidity and moisture so I guess that is the same thing.  I know you can never stop moisture all together but every little helps.

[Mafort]

maybe the backing was applied as it regularly is and then once dried and cured maybe they went back with clay and hide glue mixed together and filled in the voids?? hopefully you find out!!! i wish i could be of more help.

[Ryan Jacob]

I think a thin layer of very, very fine clay would work as a coating. But maybe the clay was only there for storage purposes?

[Marc St Louis]

Doesn't make sense.  Why use clay when animal fat was readily available and worked quite well

[stickbowbeard]

I have heard of this, and I don't think it's clay as we normally think of it.  It's called clay-ing the bow, but the "clay" is really hide glue mixed with something else.  The gentleman that explained it to me told me that he mixes hide glue with fine sawdust, usually of the same type of wood the bow is made of.  Then you spread it on thinly in such a way that it really just fills in the texture that comes from sinew-backing and makes the back of the bow smooth, so it won't be a continuous layer of clay all over the back of the bow.  If spread on in this way, you're not using very much at all, and don't really even have to worry about cracking too much, and since it's really just a thin layer of hide glue that fills in the cracks, it should really adhere well to that backing you've already laid down.  I think this will work best when the backing has fully cured and you've already smoothed it down with a scraper or something.

Doesn't sound much like it is designed to protect the sinew from moisture, but it made a smooth back that can be painted, and maybe that is what protects the bow from moisture?...

Now, all this I've said is just from talking with a friend who has done it, not from personal experience.  I hope to give it a try myself some day.

[PaSteve]

My understanding is exactly what Stickbowbeard said. It's a medium mixed with glue to fill the voids in the sinew after it has cured for a month or more. I believe it's mainly cosmetic but I don't understand why one would purposely add extra weight to the limbs? I'm fairly new at this so it may not make much of difference in bow performance so what do I know?

[PEARL DRUMS]

You are correct, Steve. Adding dead weight to a limb isn't a good idea. Unless looks are what you are after more than performance. Ive seen them get sinewed, back filled with "bondo" and then add rawhide on that! I shot one, not impressed at all.

[ohma2]

Talk to mike at pine hollow ,im sure he can help you out.

[Mounter]

Actual clay doesn’t make sense to me. Unless fired and glazed it absorbs moisture as well as dried hide glue I would think.

[DC]

I think clay would absorb water faster than hide glue but it might absorb oil/grease just as well and then be water resistant. It's not very flexible though. I think we're missing something.

[OTDEAN]

Thanks for all the answers.  I dont really know either.  Think I will fill in the gaps once the sinew cures abit with sawdust and more hide glue and then create a beeswax and resin mix and just put that on top as a moisture barrier.  Dunno, gotta try something, I live in the UK and really want a sinew bow so gotta figure this out.