Hobby Lobby sells burlap "ribbon", is it OK for backing? I have seen empty coffee bean sacks at Big R, but they did not have any last time I was there. Any other suggestions for a source? I had thought of dry wall tape, but burlap was suggested as better for a first attempt.
Thanks

brown paper bag, linen, silk....
make sure its not heavy burlap sack- will suck up a lot of glue- add a lot of weight- all you are trying to do is stop a splinter from lifting.
an old silk tie or silk scarf from one of your charity stores will work well- we have the salvation army stores up here- i buy up all the silk ties and scarves they have!!

Yes, I've used it but be careful that it is not the fake stuff. Real burlap is jute. Jawge
http://georgeandjoni.home.comcast.net/~georgeandjoni/burlap.html

QuoteOriginally posted by George Tsoukalas:
Yes, I've used it but be careful that it is not the fake stuff. Real burlap is jute. Jawge
 http://georgeandjoni.home.comcast.net/~georgeandjoni/burlap.html  

Thanks, Jawge, does it need to be washed first?
Jerry

i have used burlap on backing before... gives satisfying results.

if you apply with hide glue more effective but you can use other glues as well like epoxy etc.

best.

Rawhide, rawhide, rawhide. Its cheap, its easy and its highly effective. Plus its primitive and looks much better.

No, it does not need to be washed. Jawge

Again, just look for the real stuff. Jawge

The local green house gave me 3 empty bags. I assume is real. They badly need washed.

It won't hurt to wash it. The burlap I bought was used as a tree and plant wrap. Jawge

I used drywall paper tape on my last pyramid bow. Still need to finish tillering it, but it has been so dry I am afraid it will explode. We will see how the drywall tape works.

We don;t all use primi stuff on here.  I'm trying FG for backing,  Linen only added about 5# and that was 4 layers.  Silk is useless, brown paper bag the same.  Never tried Rawhide or sinew but from what I know and read over the last few years that would be my bet.

Why are you backing?

Salvaging a less than optimal stave/board?

Insurance?

Practice?

Backings either do work, as in sinew or wood...

...or they protect from lifting a splinter, as in fabrics, rawhide...

...or they look pretty, as in snakeskin feathers, cherry bark.

Some have dual purposes.  As in pretty sturgeon skins.

QuoteOriginally posted by John Scifres:
[QB] Why are you backing?

Salvaging a less than optimal stave/board?

Insurance?

Practice?


John,Yes the best board I could find was less than perfect, I want insurance against splinters, and I want the practice. I would like to someday do a raw hide/deer hide glued with hide glue.
Jerry

Just about any fabric will work.  If it is synthetic, you'll probably be best served with epoxy.  If natural, Titebond II or III.  Personally, I would find a piece of silk.  Light and easy.  Burlap soaks up the glue and then weighs your limbs down.

Here's a cool tutorial on gluing rawhide:   http://www.stickbow.com/FEATURES/SELFBOWS/gluing_backing.CFM