I've got an osage selfbow ready to finish. I want to do a rawhide build up on the back of the grip area. Do I put a finish on the bow before or after gluing and shaping the rawhide on the bow? Thanks, David

Check out this thread by Pat B. Its his 2012 trade bow and it turned out great. Has a leather build up grip kind of like what you're wanting to do.

http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=125;t=007590

Thanks!

Snag I glue the leather right to bare wood so I'm sure of good adhesion. I'd do the same with rawhide.

Thanks Pat. That was want I was thinking. But wanted to make sure as I would hate to mess this up as close to finishing it as I am.
David

I guess you know to wet the rawhide until it becomes plyable so it will form to the handle back. I use TBIII with good results.

I was going to soak it for awhile to get it to be workable. After it is glued on what do you use to glue on the leather grip wrapping? Barge cement?

You can use whatever glue you would normally use. Barge will work fine if you can get the wrap right where you want it the first time. Once Barge(contact cement) sticks it is stuck.