Legs or Back, Whats your pleasure?

[BigNocker]

Im going to sinew back a bow.  I've read about using both and have conflicting reports on which one works best, the long flat back sinew, or the short but plentiful leg tendons.  I need some clarification.

[cowboy]

I'm thinking either would work just as well but as afore mentioned the legs are plentiful . I'm no expert but if you alternate lengths, overlap a tad and glue up right legs work great. The long backstaps are just really handy for tying on points and fletching among other things.

[JW_Halverson]

I used to back a lot of bows with sinew, I got really tired of pounding legs out.  Nowadays I make glue from leg tendons and save the back sinew for projects.

[osage outlaw]

You can get really long leg tendons if you cut them the right way.  I am going to do a How-to this fall on cutting them.  I get rear leg tendons close to 18" from whitetails

[BigNocker]

Do I have enough of either to cover it or should I find someplace to order some more...Ive got about 5 good pieces of back tendon and maybe 4-6 pieces of leg tendon.  I don't know the specs exactly but it a flat bow style about 67" to nock and tapering down from maybe 2" wide.

My one other question is if I use the back tendon should I break it down farther than what I would for stitching or fletching? Or should I use it as a heavy thread.  The heavy thread bundles seem really thick.

[gstoneberg]

I've only used leg tendon to back bows with.  I use back sinew for any time I want longer threads.  I'm not sure 4 leg tendons is enough to back a bow.  6 might be.  I usually put on 2 layers, both at the same time, and have the second layer not go all the way to the tips.  Lately, like JW, I don't sinew back much.

George