Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: makenzie71 on December 07, 2009, 07:47:45 pm

Title: Interesting stuff to use as backing?
Post by: makenzie71 on December 07, 2009, 07:47:45 pm
I just saw a cool idea about using bark like sinew (broken into fibers and glued down) and I've seen people use whole bark pieces.  I've used hemp chord and cloth, as well as linen and flax.  What's something that could look really interesting?  I've been thinking of yucca plant leaf fibers (the leafs are tough as hell).  There's also a plant that groes in south Texas...a variety of palmetto, I believe...that can get some really long, tough, sharp leaves on it that I've been thinking of.

Ideas?
Title: Re: Interesting stuff to use as backing?
Post by: sailordad on December 07, 2009, 07:56:59 pm
if it adds weight,it will just slow down the limbs
Title: Re: Interesting stuff to use as backing?
Post by: Justin Snyder on December 07, 2009, 07:57:50 pm
Pat is the king of strange backings.  ;D Show them the tissue bows Pat.  ;D
Title: Re: Interesting stuff to use as backing?
Post by: Dano on December 07, 2009, 09:13:45 pm
Tissue paper works good if you don't have a reel bad back. This was done with Christmas paper. It is a hickory backed osage, the hickory had a small runoff.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v199/dlgren/009.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v199/dlgren/008.jpg)
Title: Re: Interesting stuff to use as backing?
Post by: mullet on December 07, 2009, 09:47:35 pm
 There was a thread on PaleoPlanet about using processed American Cheese as a backing. It's pretty tough after it is left in the Sun. :)
Title: Re: Interesting stuff to use as backing?
Post by: NTD on December 07, 2009, 09:52:10 pm
There was a thread on PaleoPlanet about using processed American Cheese as a backing. It's pretty tough after it is left in the Sun. :)

Really Really?
Title: Re: Interesting stuff to use as backing?
Post by: makenzie71 on December 07, 2009, 09:53:04 pm
I would love to see this cheese backed bow.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff to use as backing?
Post by: The Gopher on December 07, 2009, 10:22:47 pm
if it adds weight,it will just slow down the limbs

but they can still serve a purpose, all backings add mass, the only backings that add performance too are sinew and gasp...fiberglass

a marginal piece of wood can be made bow worthy with a backing that prevents splinters.

brown paper bag
blue jeans
silk shirt
linen pajama bottoms
tissue paper - PatB's tiger bow was great too bad it died (Shere Khan)
Title: Re: Interesting stuff to use as backing?
Post by: mullet on December 07, 2009, 10:23:48 pm
 I don't think anybody really backed a bow with it. But somebody, forget who, said he was going to try it. I don't think you could do it and live where there are roaches. But, I wonder what that stuff is made with. It is like soft plastic or rubber when it's left in the sun for a while.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff to use as backing?
Post by: George Tsoukalas on December 07, 2009, 10:27:37 pm
Mullet, that's a pretty cheesie backing. :) Jawge
Title: Re: Interesting stuff to use as backing?
Post by: Pat B on December 07, 2009, 11:53:20 pm
You mean this one?   :'(  This is tissue over rawhide.

(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y199/PatBNC/ShereKhanbroke001.jpg)
 
  Silk neck ties work great and come with a design. Cheap at the second hand store($1.00 ea)
Title: Re: Interesting stuff to use as backing?
Post by: sailordad on December 08, 2009, 12:20:42 am
dan, in his first post he asked if it could be used like sinew
thats why i responded with my post
sinew has very litle mass,so you get performance and protection
i would think even the fibers from the bark of an elm or the like would have much more mass than sinew and wouldnt give the
same benefits that sinew does.
it would probably work with hide glue as a protective layer
but to work like sinew as far as protection from blowing the back and performance,not gonna happen i dont think
Title: Re: Interesting stuff to use as backing?
Post by: woodstick on December 08, 2009, 12:27:59 am
i got some cherry bark i got from pat, just waiting to make the right bow to put it on, i seen some bows with it and it looks good. i use rawhide on allmost all my bows i make.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff to use as backing?
Post by: The Gopher on December 08, 2009, 12:19:16 pm
I agree tim, there is no replacement for sinew.

i think he meant using it "like sinew" in the application only, fibers glued down in a linear matrix.

I believe Baker has backed bows "like sinew" using combed flax.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff to use as backing?
Post by: AndrewS on December 08, 2009, 12:26:10 pm
You can use flax to make a thin backing for protection and you can use more flax (build the flax layer up to 1/8 thickness) for increase draw weight. Raw flax is lighter then wood and it is stronger in tension then wood.
Application is like sinew......
Title: Re: Interesting stuff to use as backing?
Post by: boo on December 08, 2009, 01:03:45 pm
Pat, that rawhide broke that clean? I didnt think it would do that ??? ???
Title: Re: Interesting stuff to use as backing?
Post by: Pat B on December 08, 2009, 01:40:58 pm
Bobby, this is thin deer rawhide. It was only to hold down any splinters that might lift from the back. This bow had very thin rings and knots, hence the rawhide backing. It will usually hold down splinters but not very effective against catastrophic failure!  ;D I don't think any simple backing, silk, linen, paper or rawhide, will hold a bow together that is destine to blow. Sinew, wood and boo most often will unless the belly is a total disaster.
Title: Re: Interesting stuff to use as backing?
Post by: medicinewheel on December 08, 2009, 01:44:43 pm
Dano I really like the X-mas paper backed bow.
Sort of don't need to wrap it for give-away!?  ;D ;D ;D