Ok, gonna make up some bamboo arrows and haft some stone points to them. Got some buff leg sinew. How do I get it down to the fibers? Beat the snot out of it with a hammer?
Danny
Danny, beat it with a hammer (ball peen the best IMO) over another piece of steel. I use a section of old railroad track . Between the rounded face of the ball peen and the curved top of the rail I get a nice job without cutting any fibers. Once you get that done just seperate with your fingers into smaller strands.
I only use the hammer enough to break up the initial casing, then I do it all by working my fingers between the strands and separating them like you would knotted hair (I remember when I had hair and it felt the same way :bigsmyl: )
Anyhow keep forcing your fingers in and separating until there are no more knots and the sinew is white and fluffy.
I leave the last 1/4-3/8" together at the bottom to give me something to hold on to and keep the sinew together
Danny here's a little pictorial I did a while back that might help......
"Sinew Harvest and Preparation" (http://www.bowyersworkshop.com/sinewharvest1.htm)
And
"Pounding it out and applying it" (http://www.bowyersworkshop.com/sinew.html)
Hope they help....... Terry
hey terry i heard from a buddy your the guy to get sinew from if this is true what would you like for some cash or trade