As always --Nice work Pat

Thanks, Mark. This is my shortest bow to date and I'm wondering if I can in fact get a 25" draw on this 46"t/t bow with a sinew back. It is a pretty clean stave with only a few pin knots.

That's great Pat I really enjoy watching your bows come to life . Well done 

Make it bend in the handle more that you usually do.

Thanks guys.
Mark, I have thinned the handle area and will bring the bend into the handle after I get the limbs bending well.

Quote from: Pat B on August 29, 2023, 10:37:45 PM
Thanks, Mark. This is my shortest bow to date and I'm wondering if I can in fact get a 25" draw on this 46"t/t bow with a sinew back. It is a pretty clean stave with only a few pin knots.

Have you ever used silk backing before Pat?  I've used it under clear glass a few times just for looks and that stuff increased the draw weight more than i thought it would.  just curios...  Kirk

About 1/16" to 1/8" horn on the belly would be awesome.

Kirk, I have used silk. It doesn't stretch very much. I actually had an osage bow fret all along the belly that had a silk back. Don't know if it were me or the silk. 
Mark, I have a set of buff horn in my basement frig but I was gonna save them for a Asiatic horn bow...if I ever make one. 

I got her to low brace this morning and the string tracks to the off side on the upper limb so I have her on a form to straighten out that limb. Once I'm sure that everything lines up I'll start prepping to add the sinew. I still have 20# or so to loose and she is still holding some reflex. I'll pull her into a few more inches of reflex then add the sinew.

sinew has started...

 

Quote from: Pat B on September 10, 2023, 04:12:12 PM
sinew has started...

Pat is the sinew rehydrated with water, and then applied to the back of the bow ?

Yes rehydrated

Bryan, I rehydrate the sinew in warm water as I'm prepping the bow. Then I squeegee of the excess water before I dip it into the warm hide glue. I again squeegee the excess hide glue off the sinew before applying it to the back of the bow. Before adding the sinew I wash the back of the bow with Dawn dish soap to degrease it than rinse with boiling water and while the back is still wet I size the back of the bow with a few coats of hide glue so it soaks into the wood.
I'll be adding another layer of sinew today then I'll wait until it dries enough to see if any areas need more sinew. After that it's a waiting game for the sinew and bow wood to completely dry.

"Pat     I'll wait until it dries enough to see if any areas need more sinew"

If it needs more in areas, show a side view of what it looks like before and after please.???

Quote from: Pat B on September 11, 2023, 11:17:12 AM
Bryan, I rehydrate the sinew in warm water as I'm prepping the bow. Then I squeegee of the excess water before I dip it into the warm hide glue. I again squeegee the excess hide glue off the sinew before applying it to the back of the bow. Before adding the sinew I wash the back of the bow with Dawn dish soap to degrease it than rinse with boiling water and while the back is still wet I size the back of the bow with a few coats of hide glue so it soaks into the wood.
I'll be adding another layer of sinew today then I'll wait until it dries enough to see if any areas need more sinew. After that it's a waiting game for the sinew and bow wood to completely dry.

Thank you Pat , very interesting indeed. 

Any time, Bryan.
Mark, I filled in the voids today with sinew and have the bow in the basement with a dehumidifier going. I'll check it in a few days to see how well it is drying and if I need more sinew. I'll take a few pics then.

 

Picking up on this thread: is all the above true if BACKING WITH RAWHIDE?
Can I I add snakeskins on top of rawhide?
Thanks for any advice.

Gary, yes even to washing the bow and rawhide with Dawn. I use boiling water to rinse the bow but just use warm water for the rawhide. And, yes you can add snake skins over rawhide. I like using hide glue for rawhide and snake skins. I would let the the rawhide dry and trimmed before adding the snake skin.