Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: PEARL DRUMS on May 29, 2013, 02:55:32 pm
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Any advice for forming/stretching a beaver tail around a slightly contoured grip? I picked up a nice dried/fleshed tail and want to use it on a recent bow.
Thanks
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Dunno, but most rawhide and leather gets softer and more elastic in water... and shrinks as it dries.
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I've done one before pearly. It ain't that bad. Soak it for a long time to get it somewhat pliable. It's going to shrink quite a bit so make sure you allow for that. I would wrap it in the dished area of the grip with something like intertube or fabric. The one I used was pretty thick to start. I purposely left it a bit thick where the stiching goes for strength and scraped the rest down feathering the outer edges on the belt sander. Seems like I degreased as well with some dishwasher soap while soaking rinsing it clean before applying it to the handle. Good luck brotha. They wear like iron ;-)
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Thanks Willis. Ill give it a go man. As picky as I am? I doubt Ill ever get it just the way I see it in my minds eye. Probably end up yanking it off and stretching some cattle leather around it. But boy oh boy does a beaver tail grip look sexy done right.
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Follow Will H's advice and it will turn out ok. Use Dawn dish soap to wash the hide and scrape as much of the fat off it as possible, but be careful not to tear it because it is kind of thin. It will shrink some too as it drys.
Grady
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I don't have any experience with them but I'd love to try one some day. The ones that i've seen look good but I personally don't like the raw, ragged edge hanging off on either end. If it was mine I'd do a leather lace wrap on the edge of the top and bottom to make a better transition from handle to wood. I think that would look sharp. Eager to see what you come up with.
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They're thin but wear well. Use a piece for the arrow plate and it will look like new for a long, long time.
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Here's one I did on my Ol fencepost bow from a few years back. Not really that contored of a grip but might be some inspiration for ya. I'm sure you can do it better ;) IMHO the tanned beavertail you can get like you see on some black widows looks and feels alot better. I got some from big Jim last year. I mostly just use it for strike plates cause I'm partial to my own buckskin leather for grips anymore... ::) anyway, good luck with it buddy :)
(http://emob1320.photobucket.com/albums/u523/harrisonbows/photo_zpsccf78d3b.jpg)
(http://emob1320.photobucket.com/albums/u523/harrisonbows/photo_zps015874a3.jpg)
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Thats about all Im covering as well Will, no locater on this one. I noticed the tail end is slightly thinner and more flexible than where it joins the body. This tail is just fleshed and made rawhide, no tanning.
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The one I used was dried as well, I soaked mine in warm water with Dawn dish soap and then scrapped the fleshy part with a spoon until I got as much fat out as I could then cut it to size and sewed it on. I did glue mine on but honestly with a dried one I don't think you would have too because of the shrinkage it will be very tight when it drys.
Grady
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Here's what you do.
1)Cover the handle in plastic wrap to protect from moisture.
2)Soak the Beaver Tail in warm water for 10 minutes.
3)Remove from water and pat dry then wrap tightly around the handle stretching it to conform around the curves of the grip. Get all the wrinkles out then wrap tightly with plastic wrap.
4)Come back in two hours and remove everything.
5)Let the tail dry 24 hours then trim to size.
6)Glue on with "Barge Cement" and lace up.
SUPER EASY!
Here is one I just did the other day.
What do ya think?
(http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k258/matter_daddy/DSCN0686.jpg)
(http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k258/matter_daddy/DSCN0688.jpg)
(http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k258/matter_daddy/DSCN0689.jpg)
(http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k258/matter_daddy/DSCN0687.jpg)
(http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k258/matter_daddy/DSCN0693-1.jpg)
(http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k258/matter_daddy/DSCN0691.jpg)
(http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k258/matter_daddy/DSCN0692.jpg)
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Sounds easy enough. I dont have nearly the curves to conform to as yours does. Ill give it a go, thanks.
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Makes for a. Beautiful handle! Can't wait to see how hours turns out Pearl.
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Hey Pearl,
I skinned a tail once...............lots of grisel and fat. when I got it all flesched out it was pretty thin. I used it as rawhide and did a grip on a hickory bow. Just be real careful if you use it as rawhide, I soaked it and applied it to the grip. when stitching it up, the holes can tear out real easy. but once dry makes a real nice grip. Can't find my camera now, but I'll try and post some later.
BDar
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That is a great looking handle tenbrook! Good luck pd and post some pics when u get done.
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Hey Pearl,
I skinned a tail once...............lots of grisel and fat. when I got it all flesched out it was pretty thin. I used it as rawhide and did a grip on a hickory bow. Just be real careful if you use it as rawhide, I soaked it and applied it to the grip. when stitching it up, the holes can tear out real easy. but once dry makes a real nice grip. Can't find my camera now, but I'll try and post some later.
BDar
Sounds like I need to have the grip only moderatley tight at first to allow for drying and shrinking. I will apply my rawhide knowledge to this project. Thanks for the tip/tip's!
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I have had bad luck trying to skin them,get in to big of a hurry I guess, :o got faith in you Pearl,I know you will do a fine job. :) Looking forward to seeing the outcome. :)
Pappy
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I tried using a tanned beavertail for a handle and made a mess of it - the holes tore out. You have to be gentle with this stuff as it doesn't stretch well and is rather delicate.
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I tried using a tanned beavertail for a handle and made a mess of it - the holes tore out. You have to be gentle with this stuff as it doesn't stretch well and is rather delicate.
I've heard of folks gluing on a thin piece of leather to the back of it to deal with it wanting to tear out the holes when tightening the lacing ...
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Hmmm... just pulled a number of tails off the drying board last night!
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PEARL I did and do it like this.
I've put 20 plus or more on 2 different ways. First off you have to scrape all the fat away and it has to be totally cean of fat. I nail streach to a board. Let me say skinning tails suck use a thin sharp knife.
After skinned,scraped ,dryed. When I'm ready to use it. I uselly trade for them arerady skinner but for the ones I get local I have to do it myself. I put in water a day to make it plyable. And cut it just like you would leather. The punch holes I used a small leather punch. But I like useing a leather awl and just punched them in. I like the awl no cut edges like punched to help in the tearing. Then I just use a large needleto sew it on with.
Tails are softer than leathers and punched holes tear out easyer. I fit them where I can sew them up snug Tails dry and will srink. Which is good.
I've also glued on thin leather strips 1/2 inch lenth of (holes) handle. Then awl in the holes. They really good at backing up the holes to stop it from tearing out. This works really good and I did a lot like this. But atfer a few you'll know how much pressure you can go before tearing out as hole.
Lately I've cut thin elk hide (soaked leather and hide) cut to fit, glued the hide to the elk hide. Glued on with TB111 then awled the holes. And sewed on while plyable.
BEAVER TAILS GIVE YOUR BOWS THAT LITTLE BIT OF PERSONAL LOOK. And there's no better feel and non slip handle materal. It's cold here durning buck season works great this gloves.
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Thanks for the tips Roy. My tail is all dried and fleshed, it looks clean to me. It sounds to me soaking it for a good bit is the biggest key. If I have to skip sewing and just mate the ends perfectly, I will. I have enough material for two attempts.
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The one I did I mated the ends and stitched it up, when it dried there was about a 1/8" gap at the seam.
Grady
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Hey Pearl
The guy I bought mine from said its still oily. He said that before you put it on your bow to cover it in that absorb product that you use for spilled liquid. If there is any oil left after that he said to wipe it down with acetone. Which bow you putting it on?
Cody
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I scrubbed mine up with Dawn and a brush. Then I put it between several paper towels and laid a dictionary on it. It appears to be pretty clean, or at least as much as I can get from it. I treated it like carp skin basically.
Im putting it on that bow I worked on in Masrhall last weekend.
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Pearl,
Next time lay a bible on it, dictionaries don't give the same mojo.
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So far so good. I cut it to length and then left the wrap around portion 1" too long. I soaked it for an hour in luke warm water. Wrapped my grip area in plastic wrap and then wrapped the tail around the grip. I used small c clamps to hold it in place. After resting the night it dried up and shrunk down nicely to conform perfectly to the grip shape. Im going to glue narrow leather strips on the backside of the hole punch section and stitch her up tonite. Hopefully I get a chance to post the bow tonite as well, I really like how its coming down. Im excited to finish this one.
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Sounds great, can't wait to see it.
Grady