Thinking about starting on this one again.

[KellyG]

I was working on this one for my bow swap. BUT

It developed this crack while tillering it. I did super glue it down and have bent it a bit by hand.



At mojom  I traded for some rawhide and am planning on giving it a go.

Now I have a few question about the rawhide. Do I wet it before trying to apply it? And will TBIII work to hold it on?

[J. Holden]

Can't answer your question Kelly but I hope you're succesful with this one.  Keep us posted!

-Jeremy  

[Osagetree]

Kelly, I soaked mine for 30 minutes or so in water that was room temp. Then used TBII to glue it down.

[Pat B]

I do like Joe does. If you add a thin layer of TBIII to the bow first and let it dry completely then add the rawhide, with glue on the bow and the rawhide, the first layer of glue will act like a vapor barrier to prevent the moisture from the glue and rawhide from entering the wood.
 I had an osage bow loose 10# after adding a rawhide backing. I had to wait 2 weeks before the draw weight got back up to where  it was before.

[KellyG]

Ok I will get on it. Oh and to hold them, I just wrap them up with an ace bandage?

[DVSHUNTER]

Yeah, put them on and then wrap then securely to keep the edges from rolling.

[Pat B]

Kelly, I use old bed sheets stripped into 2" strips to wrap rawhide and snake skins. Cheaper than Ace bandages.
I'll keep the wrap on for an hour or so then remove it to be sure there are no air bubbles or excess glue pockets. While the glue is still uncured you can use a pin or sharp razor to open the area where the air or glue is. If you cut a slit with a razor cut it lengthwise. It will "heal" as the glue dries completely.

[KellyG]

I think I have one some where. I put a layer of glue on and am letting it cure. I guess when putting glue on for the glue up I need to put it on the wet hide first to keep it from drying then the bow. I will do that tomorrow.

How long should I let it all cure before I go back to tillering it?

[Stiks-n-Strings]

Kelly make sure you put in on with flesh side down and the hair side up. I made that mistake once and had to remove the rawhide.

[KellyG]

Stiks I think I did it right. I hope the smoother side is the hair side. If not I am in trouble.

Because I have one side all wrapped up.

[KellyG]

Ok here is where I am at now.

One limb looking good.


The other is wrapped.


I am going out and unwrapping it in a bit and making sure no glue is left and rewrap wit hold teeshirts just to let it cure some more.

[KellyG]

Ok a bit more done tonight.

unwrapped.



This shows the over lap. I used tape so it would not stick to the other piece already glued.



and trimmed



I take my fingers and run down the limb pressing the excess glue and rewrap (that worked well on the other. Thank pat of the tip about pressing out the excess glue.



So I guess tomorrow I will file the edges to get the excess off the edges. Then start tillering it down.

[Pat B]

Kelly, after it is totally dry you can run your fingers down the rawhide back and listen. If there are any voids under the rawhide you will hear a different sound. Any areas like that can be remedied with a short slot cut and glue inserted then wrapped until cured.

[KellyG]

Will do pat I have found one such place it is in an area along the side where that section went around a knot. I think the little dip in kept the pressure off. I will get some glue in it.

[KellyG]

Ok I have put it back on the low brace.



and this is the string tracking.



Do I Fix that first or try and tiller the string to run true?

I got a lot of cracking sounds and ticking when I strung it and pulled it back a bit. I hope it is the rawhide and glue. I don't see any cracks any where.

[KellyG]

Ok I have put it back on the low brace.



and this is the string tracking.



Do I Fix that first or try and tiller the string to run true?

I got a lot of cracking sounds and ticking when I strung it and pulled it back a bit. I hope it is the rawhide and glue. I don't see any cracks any where.

[Roy from Pa]

I would straighten it first..

[KellyG]

Ok I used TBIII to glue the hide on. Will heating release the glue?

[Roy from Pa]

I have never used TB so I don't know, but my guess would be yes.

[KellyG]

Well now I need to figure out how to get the limbs even.