Sanding Sinew

[bigcountry]

I had a bowyer tell me I can sand sinew backing before applying another layer or snake skins.  Anyone ever heard of that?

[Pat B]

Yes you can. Some do it to smooth out the sinew so they get a smooth back. I personally like the lumpy appearance of the sinew and see no reason to sand it.

[bigcountry]

Ok, so one of my bows I am working on is a 65" NTN osage with 1.75" at fades going up 10" straight and then 1.75" to 3/8" at tips.  I finally got this bow tillered ok.  but not its at 40lbs at 28".  I draw 29".  I was thinking of piking the tips, but to get it up to 50lbs, I figured I would have to take off 2" off each end.  That would put me at 61".  I figured I need to sinew it or rawhide it.  

I heard I can also get 3-5lbs possibly with sinew per layer, so I have to account for that.

[Pat B]

You could remove 2" to 3" total from that bow and kick the tips up a bit(recurve) and probably get it to where you want to be.  With it being 1 3/4" wide you could probably go shorter but I would try what I said above first.
  Also you can temper the belly with dry heat and pick up a few pounds.     Pat

[bigcountry]

I have already steamed in some recurve into the tips when I started tillering.  But it has lost much of this.  So I am hesitate to hit the tips with heat again.  Also my hinge that got me to this low poundage state was 8" from the tip.  

Thanks for all your advise.  Since hunting season is about over, I can start working on these bows again.

[Roy Steele]

YES you can I sand it to smooth out the lumbs before adding snake skins.But you don't have to.

[Wyostikbo]

Big,
I sand the sinew when I'm finished and then spread TB III on to smooth out the back.
Brent