Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: stuckinthemud on December 18, 2015, 10:08:37 am
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Having obtained some beef achiles tendons about a week ago, I hung them to dry from the roof beams of my tin-roof garage. Its rained every day since and average temperature is about 54degF (14C). They don't stink so much any more, but any idea how many weeks they'll take to cure? Drying them in the house is NOT an option :laugh
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They will be rock hard and amber color when they are dried down.
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Its taken a week for them to get a little crusty on the edges, but no real changes apparent, so I 'm guessing they'll need at least a month, is this going to cause any problems? At least most bugs are sleeping at the moment :)
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If it's too cold out you could freez them then set them out when it warms up. Shouldn't take more than about a week. I've dried deer sinew over night when it's 60 degrees. That is unless you are wanting to use them now! :laugh:
Patrick
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You dont have a closet you could hide them in?
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tried the freezing thing but they were removed for the sake of marital harmony >:D could maybe sneak them into the loft
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You dont have a closet you could hide them in?
LOL
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It helps to carefully split larger tendons open if your drying conditions are too slow.
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A fan helps.
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Hide them behind the furnace, dryer, fridge, above your work lights or any appliance that puts off heat. If you can get the fan pearlie suggested on top of it, you'll be all set. This year mine took 3 days by the furnace. I just put the first layer on a bow that was waiting for this year's round of sinew.
If the wifey doesn't appreciate the rustic decor you can cover it with a few layers of cheesecloth and it shouldn't hurt the drying much. It won't be as much of an eyesore I'd imagine. My wife also gets rid of my sinew, except she steals it to make string for necklaces after she saw it was stronger than her hemp.
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Sinew now behind the freezer :D Thanks DK