Recurve, setback, sinew. My first time with any.

[MattZA]

Yup, I will save the sinew. Should I just soak it in water to release it from the glue?

It was a local hardwood called Leadwood. Combretum Imberbe. Extremely dense (considerably more than Ipe). It does seem like it has great potential though - since it was pulling 46# at 25". Effectively zero set, and 1 1/8" wide and 46" long before steaming the bends in.

[simk]

Sincere condolences. Just soak it in water for a while - maybe takes several days to solve the glue...
46# at 25" and 46" long, stiff handle sure demands a lot from the wood. Can't be so bad - probably worth another try 

[MattZA]

Thanks Simon,

As you say, I was asking an awful lot from the wood. The handle was stiff, and the recurves were too, so I had approximately 17" of working limb per limb. But then again, with an SG of 1.22 and a Janka Hardness of 15880N, I don't know if I'll be able to work a bigger piece without breaking both wrists!

You suggest I just soak it in plain water? Goodness me that's going to be a nightmare to then put all the sinew back in bundles 

[DC]

Would it be possible to soak the sinew just enough it off as a single piece? Store it like that and then rehydrate it just enough to be flexible and glue it on the next bow?

[MattZA]

Besides where it obviously snapped, yes I think it should be. The sinew is in one single piece, just with a neat snap.

I think I'll do that.

By the way, I made myself a draw knife out of a cheap old backsaw blade yesterday. I'll post about it in Globalmark's topic in the How-To section.