Does anyone know of a good source for natural plant fiber for bow strings ? I know collect outside. Not enough green yet. :)
Dogbain, hemp, linen(flax).
Other natural materials include sinew, gut and squirrel and groundhog rawhide.
I know where I can get gut and hemp string. I forgot about squieerl and ground hog. I have a raw groundhog hide how. I have heard you leave the hair on , right ?
Yucca works well and is always green.
If I seem to bit dumb here forgive my ignorance.
I have things on my list I want to learn and put to practice as I use my bows. Not just to hunt, but to pass on to the young ones. I feel the older I get (61) the closer I want to get to my creator. Artifical isn't cutting it.
I taught a man years ago to make cordage with yucca. By the time our camping trip was over, he had made himself a hat band.
You can leave it on or take it off.
I have had very good success with groundhog rawhide.
If you do not mind, how wide do you cut it and 2 or more ply. Just by guess I thought 1/4 wide and 2 ply. I really want to learn all I can. Thank you all.
Buy Vol 2 of the Traditional Bowyers Bible series.
There is just too much to write about bowstrings in one post on here.
To answer your last question. 3 ply is the best way to go for a simple string and width of strips is something you'll have to determine by trial and error but you are in the ball park.
I'll get the book and start on this hide. It's a big one 33" long. I want to use part of it for a bag. Brain tan the upper part and head.
I made one out of Yucca. I don't know how strong it is, though.
(http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c361/wasichu/photo-3_zps45e58e36.jpg)
I think I'm going to silk for all mine going forward. Works best with horn bows.