Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Hartung on September 04, 2007, 05:03:58 pm

Title: Sinew bowstring revisited (pics)
Post by: Hartung on September 04, 2007, 05:03:58 pm

Hi friends,

I’ve been reading the PA forum for a long time but I never had the opportunity to post some of the things that I’ve made.

Now, two weeks ago I asked questions about how to make a sinew bowstring http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,3084.0.html. So, I’ve been working on it since then, have been doing some exercise and lots of testing. Today, I shot my first two bowstrings. Here are some pics.

1. One of my first finger loop braided sinew sample string with 25# weight on one end for testing. I left this string outside during the night to test-pull it the following morning. Result: no problem.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/Hartung/Strings/1-Weigth.jpg)

2. Another test string after pulling it: bad splice.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/Hartung/Strings/2-Badsplice.jpg)

3. Long bowstring: test-pulled 70 times to 90-100# without problem. Shot in today 50 times from a 50# longbow. This is a small diameter “below” 1/8” sinew bow string. No noticeable difference in arrow speed compared to a 14 strand Dacron B50.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/Hartung/Strings/3-Sehne1.jpg)

4. Long bowstring: test-pulled 30 times to 90-100# without problem. Shot in today 30 times from a 50# longbow. This is a bigger diameter “around” 1/6” sinew bow string. Arrow speed seems to be a bit slower than a 14 strand Dacron B50. The sinew repeatedly slapped against my bow arm which has a big red spot now just in front of the thumb  ;)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/Hartung/Strings/4-Sehne2.jpg)

5. Bowyers knot on bow scale, thick string.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/Hartung/Strings/5-Bowyersknotsecondstring-1.jpg)

6. Ear, thick bow string

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/Hartung/Strings/6-Ear.jpg)

7. I was shooting in bad weather today  ;D.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/Hartung/Strings/7-Weather.jpg)

9. Bowyers knot on bow nock.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/Hartung/Strings/9-Bowyersknotonbow.jpg)

9. Ear on bow nock.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/Hartung/Strings/8-Earonbow.jpg)

Thanks once more for your help and thanks for looking.
PS: Any comments or suggestions for improving things are welcome (Ex.: I’m not very happy with the bowyers knot on a sinew bow string)

Title: Re: Sinew bowstring revisited (pics)
Post by: Justin Snyder on September 04, 2007, 05:38:20 pm

Great looking strings.  I tried a bowyers not on my sinew string.  It really sucks to untie. After that I used a modified double half hitch.  It was much better.  Justin

Title: Re: Sinew bowstring revisited (pics)
Post by: mullet on September 04, 2007, 08:21:03 pm

  Thanks for the pictorial.I've yet to make one that didn't break.I'm saving my squirrel skins this year and try a rawhide string.

Title: Re: Sinew bowstring revisited (pics)
Post by: mullet on September 05, 2007, 04:44:15 pm

 Maybe I'll give sinew a try.The rawhide strings I made seemed to break for no reason or were just too thick.