Wood glue as a backing?

[eastcreekarchery]

What do yall think about a few layers of wood glue painted on the back of a bow as a backing material? I think it would only provide protection like rawhide and its not veryyyyy traditional but do you think it would work?

[Pat B]

It wouldn't be as strong as rawhide. I've seen bows sealed with wood glue but never seen it used as a backing. Add brown grocery bag paper and you'll get a little more protection.

[RyanY]

Wood glue doesn't have a structure that would provide any protection for a bow's back. Almost anything would be better.

[Del the cat]

Wood glue doesn't have a structure that would provide any protection for a bow's back. Almost anything would be better.

+1
Del

[mmattockx]

Wood glue doesn't have a structure that would provide any protection for a bow's back. Almost anything would be better.

+2.

OP, you can use a light fabric with wood glue to back a bow for safety (I used an old bed sheet for a couple) but the wood glue is useless on its own.


Mark

[bradsmith2010]

nothing in bow making is that easy,,

[bassman]

I have used AD-40 Smooth On with backings, and it always gave me a better sense of security in he long run, but that may be only in my head though epoxy is stronger than wood glue.

[DC]

The trouble with backings is that you never really know if they did anything or not. Was it really going to break or did you just think it would? it's a judgement call on your part.

[bradsmith2010]

DC,, I agree,, but when I started,,  I read Jay Massey and Pope and Young both expressed the opinion that backings had reduced failure in their bow making,, so I figure it couldnt hurt,,and took their experience or opinion to heart,,

[George Tsoukalas]

Rawhide, linen, silk and burlap (in that order) can be put on with Titebond 3 and add protection.  Jawge

[Pat B]

I had a rawhide backed osage longbow, "Shere Kahn", that had over 1000 arrows shot through it and one night me and Evan Williams had a discussion about using back muscles at the end of my draw to increase my draw length by 2 inches. When I tried a demonstration poor "Shere Kahn" became a takedown bow, in a dozen or so pieces. It was quite the explosion but my point is a backing won't keep a bow from blowing and in my case it didn't help stupid. 
 I'd say these backings are more of an insurance policy for you, to give you a little more confidence in your bow. Any time I'm not sure of a bows back I will put a rawhide backing on it.

[bassman]

I got a kick out of your story Pat B.  I have had self bows explode into several pieces. Wild Choke Cherry comes to mind. With backed bows it seems like it slowed the process down for me.You hear a crack ,and when you stop ,and look  you see the crack coming through the backing. Never had a backed bow explode like some of the self bows.

[PatM]

Also rawhide can vary quite a bit in strength depending on how it was treated to make it into rawhide.     I made some good stuff many years ago and backed a HHB bow which I later deliberately tried to break by overdrawing.  I could not do it.  The string would just slip off the tips.