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Post by scrub-buster on Mar 28, 2010 2:55:44 GMT -5
Sinew backing take two. I sanded the bow down and removed all of the old hide glue that was left on it. Then I used hot water and dawn dish soap to degrease the back. I used a pocket knife to score the back a little deeper than before.  I also used acetone on the back again. Hopefully there isn't any more grease or oil left on it. I spent 5 hours putting on the sinew Friday. I started by putting 4 coats of glue on the back. This time I put both layers of sinew on at once. I have read that it is OK to do that.  I also took the sinew down the side of the bow a little to.  Here is the bow after 24 hours. It is starting to set up, but is still a little squishy in the center.  While it is drying, I have some time for other hobbies. I have been working on cleaning a river otter and beaver skull. I am almost ready to whiten them with peroxide.  |
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Post by scrub-buster on Mar 29, 2010 22:34:46 GMT -5
It is still drying.  |
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Post by Decatur on Mar 29, 2010 22:44:32 GMT -5
Thanks for sticking with this thread Scrub!
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Post by scrub-buster on Apr 7, 2010 0:46:21 GMT -5
OK, not much going on with the bow. I want to make sure it is good and dry before I start bending it agian. This weekend I plan on checking the tiller and maybe shooting it. I did wrap the tip of each limb with some back sinew. I just wanted to make sure it stayed in place.  I have been able to do some more work on the bow shop. I have moved most of my tools and supplies. Some sheeting, insulation, and an air conditioner and I will be set.  While loading some lumber from behind our old house, I heard something big rustling in the weeds. I looked and saw a large snake sunning himself. It was plenty big enough to use for backing a bow. I went and got a sawed off 20g and took careful aim at his head since I didn't want to ruin the skin. It turned out to be a little over 5' long and very fat.  I took a fillet knife and sliced down his belly. The idea is to make a straight line, but my knife was dull so my cut was crooked.  After it is split down to the tail, you just start peeling the skin off.  The skin is soft and thin.  I use a 2x6 to spread it out on. I start stapling it at one end, and pull it tight. I keep the staples in the large belly scales since these will not be used on the bow.  Here is what it looks like when finished.  Now, I will just stand it in the corner for the next two weeks to let it dry. |
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Post by Decatur on Apr 7, 2010 2:25:59 GMT -5
I love the look of snake skin backed bows!
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Post by scrub-buster on Apr 8, 2010 5:28:47 GMT -5
I wish we had more colorful snakes in Indiana. My parents are going to Texas this summer. They have orders to bring me back some diamond backs.
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Post by Decatur on Apr 8, 2010 7:10:08 GMT -5
;d A king or Corral snake would be cool too!
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Post by huxbux on Apr 8, 2010 17:50:59 GMT -5
If I come across a timber rattler or copperhead while turkey hunting this season, I'll take it for you. BTW - great thread !
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Post by schall53 on Apr 10, 2010 7:30:48 GMT -5
If you are looking for a Diamondback go to www.taxidermy.net. Then go to forums and click on the for sale tab. There is a guy on there from Texas selling them frozen whole. The last time I was there he had 90 left. Just do a search for rattlesnakes and it should bring up his post. His screen name is texascritter. |
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Post by scrub-buster on Apr 10, 2010 19:05:00 GMT -5
Thanks Huxbux and Schall. Timber rattlers and copperheads look cool. I checked out the guy on taxidermy.net. I signed up and am awaiting the OK from admin.
I strung the bow today for the first time since redoing the sinew. The tiller is slightly off. I did some scraping on it, but didn't get any pictures. Tomorrow I will try to get the tiller done so I can start shooting it. The plan is to take this bow to the farmland shoot in May. I went to an Indian artifact trade show yesterday and picked up some small pieces of hornstone and flint. I would like to learn how to knap some arrow heads.
The snake skin is drying out nicely. I have a couple of black snake skins from last summer that might match it so I can use it on this bow.
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Post by trapperdave on Apr 10, 2010 19:36:04 GMT -5
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Post by scrub-buster on Apr 12, 2010 2:02:10 GMT -5
I did some more scraping on the lower limb today. It isn't perfect, but I think it is as good as it is going to get. It is bending more than it should. I am not crazy about this design with the shorter lower limb. I decided to put a nocking point on it and try it out. I forgot the arm guard again when I took the first shot. It smacked me pretty good and the arrow glanced off the top of the target and launched down into the woods. It has been 12 hours since then and I still have a nice red patch puffed up on my arm. I shot about 40 arrows out of it and it seems to be holding up fine. I will keep shooting it for a few days to make sure. I also need to do some finish sanding before I put the skins on. Here is an action shot.  I really need to work on accuracy now. At least one arrow was good.  |
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Post by turkeyscout on Apr 12, 2010 4:36:15 GMT -5
......Great job scrub-buster! You have Talent!...I'm proud of you! job well done!.....   ....i used to shoot instinctive with a recurve.( way back when)..great feeling when the arrow hits its mark. ..good luck....turkey scout |
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Post by Decatur on Apr 12, 2010 6:57:31 GMT -5
Pretty cool!
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Post by Woody Williams on Apr 12, 2010 7:29:39 GMT -5
scrub buster,
I can't shoot one of these any more, but I've sure enjoyed watching your progress on it.
Hopefully this fall you can get a picture of it and the critters that you down with it.
Thanks for sharing and congratulations on a job well done.
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Post by HighCotton on Apr 15, 2010 18:43:22 GMT -5
I have to tell ya scrub...your talent sure is inspiring! I'm still working on getting the hang of shooting my recurve instictive. Man, it definitely looks a lot easier than it is. I don't think I've ever practiced so long and lost my patience on anything as much as learning to shoot my stickbow. Awesome job!
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Post by scrub-buster on Apr 15, 2010 18:57:54 GMT -5
I haven't had time to do much with the bow. I did find a good deal on craigslist. I picked up a Craftsman 12" band saw. The motor is about 4 times bigger than the saw that I've been using. It will make cutting out the bows a lot easier. This weekend I plan on shooting the bow some more. If everything looks good, I'll sand it down again and try to put the snake skins on. Thanks for all of the kind words. Here is the saw.  |
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Post by turkeyscout on Apr 16, 2010 6:25:49 GMT -5
awwwwwwwwh the armguard is on, good idea.... ;D...............turkey scout
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Post by scrub-buster on Apr 20, 2010 18:40:54 GMT -5
After having a bad cold this weekend, the plan was to put the snake skins on today after taking my son to a consultation with the orthodontist. As soon as we got home, I put on some old clothes and headed to the garage to get started. Then school called and said that they thought my daughter had broken her foot jumping off of a piece of playground equipment, so it was off to the emergency room.
So to recap my day, 5 hours driving back and forth, finding out braces are going to cost a little more than $5,000, a trip to the ER and who knows what that will cost, and now, I get to work a 12 hour night shift. No time for bow making! HOPEFULLY, I will get the skins on Thursday. I did shoot it some more Friday. I started to get some better groups.
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Post by Decatur on Apr 20, 2010 23:36:56 GMT -5
Don't you hate when life gets in the way of having fun?!
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....i used to shoot instinctive with a recurve.( way back when)..great feeling when the arrow hits its mark. 
