Birch bark over sinew

[DC]

I just put Birch bark over my sinew bow using Elmers Probond(similar to TDII/III) I think). Do I have to wait much more than 24 hours to bend it? I'm thinking of the water in the glue reacting with the hide glue.

[High-Desert]

I would wait a bit longer. I put rawhide over sinew with TBIII, and I lost nearly 10 pounds of draw weight, it didn't come back for a few weeks. But that's just one experience with it.

[PEARL DRUMS]

Id wait at least 5 days, Don. And that's only if you have 50% humidity or less. Longer if its higher. You not only have to let the bark and glue dry out and cure, but you also introduced moisture back into the sinew and bow wood, slight as it may be, it's not worth losing reflex or changing your tiller.

[DC]

And back in the box it goes. Right after I do a couple of fix-ups on the bark job.
Thanks

[Pat B]

I'd also wait a while. The birch bark acts like a vapor barrier but in this case it holds the moisture from the glue in.

[BowEd]

That procedure falls int my 10 day rule wait again.Might be long but it's never failed me.

[Mo_coon-catcher]

It's a bit different as you used bark and I used fish skin. But when I glued the skins in with TB3 and the skins being wet wen applied. The bow lost 4" of teflex that took 2-3 weeks to creep back with no shift for the first week.

Kyle

[DC]

This is making me wonder if a person should tie the bow into reflex every time you do something like this? Like if Kyle had tied his bow into reflex would he have gained a bit?

[Pat B]

DC, it surely wouldn't hurt anything to tie the bow up in reflex as it dries and it may help.

[PEARL DRUMS]

I would watch the bark closely, make sure it doesn't buckle on you.

[BowEd]

It does'nt hurt to put a little tension of say an extra 1" reflex on it if you like while it dries.I've done that,but still waited 10 days with birch bark.Do that with snake skins too though.My birch bark is about typing paper thickness or less.It does'nt matter in the end.when you pull it to full draw again that little bit will pull right out to your original reflex you had.