Cloth Backing???

[Christian Soldier]

So as some of you may know, I've got a cherry bow in the making and a ton of sassafras staves.

You might also know that both of these woods have been known for problems with tension breaks.

I'm too cheap for sinew so I think a cloth backing might be appropriate.

Do yall have any advice for application, cloth selection/quality, bow performance effects of cloth backing, etc.?

Any advice is appreciated, thanks!

Dan

[Will H]

I would go for some raw silk. Apply with tb3. About the same as rawhide but maybe a little lighter. As far as being to cheap for sinew... You might try the trade section. If you some stuff to trade you could score sinew and some hide glue pretty easily

[Sasquatch]

The best backing for your money is probably 10-12Oz/yard 100% linen. Any color 

[bubby]

I've used strips cut from an old bed sheet, like said before linen and it works, I thin some glue down and soak the linen in that while the glue sizes on the back, then wring out the excess glue and aplly

[RBLusthaus]

maybe use dog bone rawhide instead?

[autologus]

maybe use dog bone rawhide instead?

I have used dog bone rawhide as a backing and it worked well, the thickness is not real consistent and can be pretty thick but you can thin it with sandpaper and a lot of elbow grease.  The one I did was thicker on one end so I cut out two strips side by side and put the thicker ends together at the handle and thin ends at the tips.

Grady

[Arrowind]

I really like burlap.  It's cheap and has a really cool texture too.  Not sure if it will meet your needs as far as tension strength goes....

[Christian Soldier]

Where does one (me  ) buy/find linen or silk?

[lesken2011]

I bought my linen at my local fabric store. I went to buy the thicker version but they were out. I wound up buying the thinner version which worked great! I have heard that you can pick up silk ties at the local 2nd hand store like Goodwill or Salvation Army very inexpensively.

[RBLusthaus]

maybe use dog bone rawhide instead?

I have used dog bone rawhide as a backing and it worked well, the thickness is not real consistent and can be pretty thick but you can thin it with sandpaper and a lot of elbow grease.  The one I did was thicker on one end so I cut out two strips side by side and put the thicker ends together at the handle and thin ends at the tips.

Grady

I thin it as best I can (belt sander), and then after it is glued down to the bow, I use a scraper and scrape it so thin so that it becomes "almost" translucent.  It gets thin enough where I have to take care and make sure the bow back under the hide is not to ugly as color can be seen thru the hide.