How to Build a primitive sinew backed cedar survival bow

[@sessary]

Excellent! Thanks for speeding it up where you did... makes for a clean, clear video on how to make a cedar bow without boring us to death. Excellent instructions, demos... love it!

[@clayhayeshunter]

Glad you liked it!

[@sessary]

@@clayhayeshunter Btw, LOVED the sinew backing demo... it answered a number of questions I had about the process.

[@kimcurtis9366]

The Native People of this Continent had thousands of years to perfect the sinew backing technique! It works very well and can make a short, horse bow extremely heavy and can actually send a hunting arrow completely through a Buffalo! The really great thing about sinew backing is that it will continue to strengthen the bow for over a year, as it continues to dry! Native People used to hang the sinew backed bows in the smoke from the fires in the Tipi. It worked well and after a year or so, it would be completely dry ans ready to string and use! It should be strung and used every few weeks as it dries! I have a 40 inch bow that would have been a hunting bow in the old days that was made by my Shoshone adopted son that is so strong that I can no longer draw it! I have been disabled by a disease that eats the cartilage from every joint and it keeps me from drawing any bow, anymore! The now he made me draws at about 85 pounds and there is no way that anyone I know can draw it to full draw! With this kind of bow, you want to be sure to warm it up by rubbing it and drawing it a little at a time until it is ready to be drawn to it's full draw!

[@clayhayeshunter]

Sinew is amazing stuff!

[@strongholds12]

All diseases are due to over toxic body and malnutrition

[@davidschartung6389]

@@strongholds12 you couldn't be more wrong

[@strongholds12]

@@davidschartung6389 false

[@davidchuyma9783]

The fast motion cutting is really satisfying

[@christiangiancamilli2681]

Please make the eastern woodland powathan bow and the plains lakota short bow!❤❤❤❤

[@MickGrewcock]

Great video, thank you

[@theluckyduck9770]

@Mathew Gordon did she notice you?

[@AFCAWorldBodybuildingArchive]

Now THAT is an awesome video. Love the simplicity! 💪

[@andreasporch788]

I made cedar bow no backing shoots great.

[@landonsweetin1333]

How is it still working?

[@Soviless99]

i always thought eastern red cedar was too brittle for bows. thank you so much for giving me this knowledge

[@michaelduncan2151]

Sovilesd99....THATS WHY YOU BACK EM....!!!

[@flightlesschicken7769]

It's actually regarded as one of the best bow woods. Some people even say it can be used in place of Yew. It's in the same category as Yew and Osage Orange it seems. Although it is better backed, it can be made into a pretty good selfbow as well.

[@Soviless99]

@@flightlesschicken7769 how does it compare to the juniper ishi used? i thought they were closely related but for some reason thought ERC was poor bow wood in general.

[@flightlesschicken7769]

@@Soviless99 They are very closely related and they probably make very similar quality bows. I don't know exactly how they compare, but all junipers make great bows. Some make better bows than others but they are all very good. For some reason (perhaps because of its prevalence, beauty and excellent properties) ERC is discussed separately from other junipers. Or it could just be that many people don't know it is a juniper due to its name. The main problem with ERC bows (it seems from what I read) is it's somewhat hard to find a suitable piece--due to knots and pins--and it is not a beginner bow maker's wood. It apparently needs to be treated right or it might break explosively. But if treated right it makes fantastic English Long Bows, that are very light, have good durability and shoots quite fast. Properties of the tree also likely vary with growth condition, so it's possible that some condition yield bows that are more likely to break than others. That answer your question? Edit: I do think I have read about inexperienced bow makers making good bows out of ERC, but I still believe it is a fantastic bow wood for someone who knows how to make bows. Sorry for typing so much as well

[@Soviless99]

@@flightlesschicken7769 yes thank you! i will keep my eyes open for an ideal piece of ERC. i think maybe id try to find a nice piece for a short bow. i read somewhere that even today in western united states, theres juniper trees whose limbs are missing strips from their upward growing branches (natives utilizing the natural reflex of the juniper branches!!)! also i think it would be interesting to even get creative and utilize splices etc to join two short but good pieces of ERC due to the irreularities!

[@znunofficial4709]

as an osage who lives in Ni-u-kon-ska, i love to see a cedar bow!

[@literaryartist1]

This is awesome. Enjoyed every minute of it

[@Tradbow85]

Man I am so impressed how effortless you made this look. I want an ERC bow bad but mine seem to explode. Hardest wood I've tried working with.

[@clayhayeshunter]

I’ve had a few blow up. It’s a brash wood but makes a quick shooter!

[@DariusWhite-p9f]

​@@clayhayeshuntercan u use sinew from ribs or is that a different type of membrane

[@robertopinzani6774]

Nice to see the way you use( and me too😁) to work with draw knife, stave pointed against the base of the wall and on the belly , simply sitting on a chair, old way school , no shaving horse needing 👌 quick and natural. With body control of the stave, feeling the wood on the arms and with the body,, yea bro . Natural way for natural production

[@mattobelix21]

Hi clay Do you ever have any issues with gluing backings after heat straightening with oil? Regards

[@clayhayeshunter]

No, I always scrape away whatever wood has been oiled. Jus light scraping will do it.

[@mindydosztan139]

Yeah oil mixed with gour isn't good glue doesn't holdup right it slipped on ya think about it oil makes every thing slippery its gonna do the same with glue yaknow

[@PatientFarmer]

Gorgeous bow!

[@aashique629]

This is my most liked bow in your collections😍

[@surviveplusbushcraft5650]

You have incredible skill with the hand tools and way more patience than me. Great work!

[@clayhayeshunter]

Thanks

[@jonathanwolfe2555]

Love what you do and how you do it. You make by far the best and most comprehensive videos. Love how you hunt with the bows you make, exactly the way it should be. When I make a bow a little piece of me is in every one and I think this is true with every Bowyer. Once again Love your body of work man.

[@aaronluna4341]

Hey Clay, part two of this little adventure it looks like! The bow turned out lovely. Saw that you didn’t lay it on the tillering board but instead floor-tillered which is true to a primitive situation, or survival situation. Hell, i’ve caught myself looking in mirrors checking tiller but their ain’t no mirrors growing in the woods! Haha. I don’t think you mentioned the draw weight? What was she pulling? I’ve built a few juniper/cedar sinew backed bows, one of which had an elk rawhide backing ON TOP of the sinew. Lot’s of mass added but it was durable, minus use in heavy rain. Really easy wood to work. Anyways, I hope I get to see the hog hunt video coming up. Wish I could get out for that but i’m busy lately. Cheers!

[@hunter.1]

A masterpiece. greetings from Brazil

[@clayhayeshunter]

Thanks

[@krunopandzic1247]

Great video in the series. Love the nature and the catel in the backgroun. Nice work Clay can't wait to see the arrow heads 👍

[@jeromycooley-outwestadvent5790]

Awesome video! I learned a lot. Very clear information. Thank you! Just out of curiosity about what is the draw weight?

[@esben181]

I have eastern redcedar trees everywhere. Did not know they were suitable for bow making!

[@clayhayeshunter]

Nice 👍

[@TheSunnyTrails]

I bet that bow smelt soooo good when you where carving it

[@DanielSmithForge]

Great videos as always, thanks for the many years of knowledge

[@ssrhythm6923]

This is one of my favorite bow build vids of yours. I've got a ton of Juniper available to me here in WY, so I am going to mix a couple of Juniper builds in between Osage projects. I will definitely be trying to reproduce that ELB design in your vid, but I also want to try to make a skinny handle flat or paddle bow with recurves, as I think it could be a beautiful, sweet, and screaming hunting machine if done correctly. You mention that a flat bow design would work...do you have any recommendation on limb width/bow length for a flatbow of Juniper that would offer a respectable amount of durability and performance if done well? Any recommendations/tips/warnings regarding bending in recurves/reflex to the tips? Thanks.

[@TheHuntingSpot]

Good luck finding anything straight out of juniper

[@Akimikinaak]

Cedar has high compression strenth right . One of those woods that pairs well with sinew backing. Or am i misrembering

[@jamesunderdal8976]

Why does the cedar bows need to be backed? Because its brittle or will crack when drawn or does backing it give it more spring for shooting the arrow harder?

[@clayhayeshunter]

It’s a brittle wood

[@jamesunderdal8976]

@@clayhayeshunter ok thanks I love your videos man been watching for awhile now.

[@trooper2221]

Clay, what was that packet of stuff u put in to the bowl with water, to dip sinew in to?

[@lammertkruger1925]

Hi Clay, when will you post your video of this bow on your hog hunt?

[@rickymathis8223]

Hey clay do you put a little shelf on the bow or do you shoot off you hand.Great video my friend.

[@clayhayeshunter]

This bow has no shelf but usually I do cut one.

[@caseysmith544]

I live on the western edge of the Eastern Red Cedar range so yeah I want to try to do a bow out of the tree even if in South Dakota the Eastern red cedar or the juniper are small with both in South Dakota could make for a great bow and using the Rawhide from a large dog bone soaked in water for a few days about 2--3 depending on the size is the cheapest way to get a bow like this. I would try to first smoke the wood in a smoker to take some of the moisture out before working on the bow if harvested right from the tree.

[@tnoutdoors3820]

This is exactly what i planned on doing, with the dog bone

[@caseysmith544]

That bow is one of Kramer Ammons most used bows besides another one he had before he started making bows, not sure the model. So much he made a nearly exact copy that got cut and used for a crossbow build cutting off middle part of the unfinished handle.

[@tnoutdoors3820]

@@caseysmith544 I've seen that video as well I have a dog bone that I specifically for a cedar bow

[@caseysmith544]

@@tnoutdoors3820 Yeah they are easy to find too unlike the rawhide for bow making that right now is harder to find due to people in 2020 making bows due the the quarantine, not that it is that hard but you know. I just said what I would use some of the little piece of rawhide with my own thoughts as well as the cut off edges for.

[@tnoutdoors3820]

@@caseysmith544 yeah and a whole lot cheaper also, about 2 to 5 dollars compared to somewhere past 20 dollars

[@williambeatty2675]

Thank You you have helped me out greatly appreciate.

[@viorage2293]

As you mentioned, you took some material off the back for aesthetics. I've been reading to always leave the back alone for more strength, is that true?

[@clayhayeshunter]

That’s true for an unbacked bow. But since this one is sinew backed, it doesn’t matter.

[@jacobwhite8204]

Did you thin down the sapwood and chase a growth ring

[@joshuac6796]

Hahaha you've been hanging out with Gill too much. I watch his videos and end up building crazy stuff.

[@toxophilecute1]

Oh, my God. I love this video!

[@IAmPaulBunyan1978]

Awesome video... Awakened my inner Karankawa... I may try this with Huisache.

[@timmock9786]

Can you back the bow with linen

[@traviscline2098]

How thick was the handle? Did it bend through the handle?

[@allamerican4726]

Awesome bow build, you make it look easy

[@clayhayeshunter]

Been at it for a long time.

[@Oskarius84]

Can I use sinew strings as long as my bow? I've heard that they may break and that it's better to use shorter bundles that kinda overlaps each other along the back of the bow.

[@TheJonny2200]

Oskarius84 id save the long ones for a bow string

[@Macovic]

I think junioer was grandpa choice. If the natural back is left (no back flattening), do one really need sinew?

[@nobodysonofpeleus3421]

hey Clayes, Wonderful video. does the backing make the bow much more resistant to breaking? the way you pulled back that far made me feel very unease haha. from time to time iam building crossbows using yew wood for the prods. and for some reason I often have yew bows that break. would sinew backing help mitigate that?

[@jamesdoehler9870]

Fiberglass drywall tape is a good backing too , use titebond waterproof glue and three layers of the tape try it sometime 👍

[@clayhayeshunter]

Great tip!

[@GW2206-l5i]

That is really cool

[@mohamadsyamilsazali4833]

Mr Hayes, does caedar wood goes well with bamboo backing can't get sinew in my place, great video btw

[@clayhayeshunter]

Bamboo and hickory both work well.

[@ripfletching]

Good video I’m planning on building a cedar now maybe this winter

[@chasonhayes435]

What was the thickness of the stave when you began layout?

[@Frank-f1s5x]

You do not disappoint brother. Your Alone adventure was awesome but your videos are the best. I have harvested the sinew of three deer here in Arkansas and after watching your cedar bow build I am fixing to go cut down one of our many cedars here in the ranch and try my hand at bow building. You are truly an inspiration, love you brother.

[@vincentearl7684]

Would horse bandages work for wrapping the sinu on a bow

[@clayhayeshunter]

Probably

[@timothydavey7569]

Did you sand the bow at all?

[@ndubstar]

How much sinew is used on the bows? Is it by ounces weight of sinew?

[@SFarling]

Great video Clay!

[@Sebastian-kl1mn]

Hi man! I found a couple of days ago a juniper bush stem that I thaught perfect for a wooden bow. I've finished building it and are now stretching it out as it's dryes on day 3. I was wondering if you could give me some guidence by mabey looking att pictures of it and and give some advice on how not to make it break. Thanks beforehand and cheers from Sweden.

[@davidrose415]

I am about to make a persimmon bow slightly recurved. I've seen some other people did that the wood is simply beautiful. I am going to reinforce the knocks with deer antler. I intend to make cedar arrows with turkey fletch and 1095 broad heads made from railway spikes sinched in with sinew. It is going to be an adventure on the arrows as I have never made arrows from scratch.

[@clayhayeshunter]

Persimmon makes a good bow!

[@davidrose415]

@@clayhayeshunter I haven't made a bow in 15 years. I've shot archery seriously for 35 years, but got into compound and stopped learning to make my own (self taught by trial and error, no books or teacher). Now I am watching your videos to fill in the blanks before I cut down this tree. From what I have found I can split and stave the trunk to a near finished bow, then dry it over a fire and fire temper the bow after I dry it.

[@jameslovelace8828]

I like it!

[@playlistkurniawan2318]

I still don't know what the best option tree in my country to make a bow

[@Duckhunterbow]

Will the piece of string you used to tie the center down during backing slide out after the sinew is dry, or do you just trim the ends and leave a small piece under the sinew?

[@clayhayeshunter]

I used a small sinew string and trimmed the ends to leave it in place. If you use waxed bow string material you can pull it out when the sinew is dried.

[@breaulenny]

How do you mke the glue? Great video

[@StephenS-2025]

All I want is the present and a bow. 🙂

[@slingshotwarrrior8105]

Fine craftsmanship

[@mattcrowl6035]

Hey Clay do you sell any of your self made bows. I can make a bow myself and I collect traditional bows, but I'm a big fan and think it would be really cool to add a Clay Hayes bow to my collection. I usually aquire a bow and then harvest an animal with it and then retire the bow on the antlers of the animal I harvested it with up on the wall. Please let me know!

[@bearmartin7059]

Hey Clay, New fan can you treat red cedar like yew leaving sap wood or just strip the bark?

[@clayhayeshunter]

In my experience, it doesn't matter with ERC. Leave the sapwood or take it off. Just back it with something sturdy.

[@bearmartin7059]

@@clayhayeshunter thanks for the quick response!

[@tylerparker3024]

What about tite bond with sinew does it work as good as hide glue

[@clayhayeshunter]

It doesn’t soak into the fibers as well but it’ll work.

[@ChrisJohnson-br2le]

Just curious, how much do you sell your bows for?

[@user-mb4se6km5p]

This is awesome video.i just started a shaggy bark juniper takedown bow yesterday.i will reflex and sinew back it.

[@elliottlemire1537]

How dose the wood not split in the hot box from drying so fast?

[@billkinman3643]

Really enjoyed this video Clay. Is there any way to estimate the amount of sinew it took to back that bow?

[@clayhayeshunter]

I think about 8-10 whitetail back sinews would be plenty.

[@Morrow45105]

@Ray Jones have you finished any? just harvested some pig nut n wonder how its worked for you?

[@grejen711]

Hmm... I live on the wet coast and all we have is western red cedar and fir. The cedar tends to grow with a spiral grain. Still, might make a decent bow if properly backed.

[@keithmosley5002]

Clay is this cedar different than what we have here in south fla?

[@clayhayeshunter]

This is eastern red cedar. Juniperus virginiana. I'm not sure what species you have down south. Might be the same.

[@edwardchance2543]

Very cool thanks for the great video

[@AFCAWorldBodybuildingArchive]

I thought one has to follow one growth ring on the back. Or does this rule only apply to un-backed bows?

[@clayhayeshunter]

It isn’t necessary to follow a ring if you’re backing the bow with another material. The sinew takes all the tension. For an unbacked bow, the wood along the back has to withstand that tension force. This is why it is important to follow an unbroken growth ring for most unbacked bows.

[@AFCAWorldBodybuildingArchive]

@@clayhayeshunter makes perfect sense. Thank you 💪

[@starchaserm3579]

hi clay whats in the packet that you put in the water, ps i found your channel through your book

[@clayhayeshunter]

It’s Knox gelatin. Same as hide glue.

[@arnaulpujol8439]

Esta bueno de que madera es el arco saludos de Bs As

[@Makete100]

Do you have to follow the growth ring on the back of the bow?

[@clayhayeshunter]

No, not at all.

[@nuttynate797]

How much sinew is needed for this? Is that multiple deer worth of sinew?

[@clayhayeshunter]

Yes, maybe 3 deer or one elk.

[@takeshimizuho6680]

What glue are you useing, I saw people use warm hide glue but yours looked rather cold? great Video!

[@clayhayeshunter]

It’s warm.

[@jak0731]

I love the video, no doubt about it. I'm just curious about the haunting and almost howling sounds when it's sped up... it's like the video was haunted by ghosts!

[@clayhayeshunter]

Some are cattle. Some is an atv.

[@jak0731]

@@clayhayeshunter well that makes sense lol I guess it should have been pretty obvious

[@robsmith6961]

You do great work Thanks . I do have a question for you , I have SOME very tin Elk 25" back strap can I just lay it on t he back wet like rawhide strips rather than making it into strings? ROB THANKS FOR YOUR HELP

[@clayhayeshunter]

I’ve never tried that but I’m going to soon. I think it’ll work well.

[@robsmith6961]

@@clayhayeshunter if you can let me know when you get to I am going in for a 2nd new knee so I am out of hunting this year but WOULD like to try build for next summer. Your elk shots look good got me going for Idaho elk.

[@norsetexan809]

What about using artificial sinew? Would that be ok? I didn’t hear you say if yours was natural or artificial.

[@clayhayeshunter]

Artificial sinew is nothing but waxed nylon. It has nothing in common with the real stuff and doesn’t behave the same.

[@Dainith]

@@clayhayeshunter I was gonna ask that same thing, but It came to mind it's plastic, I just made a cedar bow from a 1"x2"1/4" cedar board, draw back was like 80lbs, 20 shots,good groupings, broke right in my face, then I remembered you made a video about backing cedar, thanks

[@archerdavid8375]

really love it...

[@David35445]

Really enjoying this series. Just finished tillering a red oak board bow to your design. I initially had about 2 inches of back set in it but neglected to tie it in a form when I did the raw hide backing. When that raw hide dried I went from 2 inches of back set to about 1/2 inch belly set. Not a big deal in my mind but in your opinion what will the cons be from this? BTW the oak was perfectly quarter sawn, Big Box store score! Oh, and how long should I make the string on a 70 inch bow with knocks set 1/2 inch from the tips?

[@clayhayeshunter]

A bow with a little string follow will just be a little less efficient than one with back set. All else being equal. Not a big deal. For the string, measure nock shoulder to nock shoulder and subtract 3 inches.

[@thefly-fishingaddict591]

Hey Clay, Where do you get your sinew? I have harvested my own for years but Im wondering if you buy yours or not. Thanks!

[@clayhayeshunter]

I get my own and from friends

[@thefly-fishingaddict591]

@@clayhayeshunter cool deal. Thanks!

[@nakoawarrior3186]

When its sunny and 90 degrees cut down a sassafras tree,.....it will flip and flop and twist. It literally will turn in to propeller wood right in front of you you can watch the bark twist.

[@lanpher7charlie]

Good video, i did however notice the crocks lol

[@clayhayeshunter]

Love ‘em!

[@rcorn149]

Vantastic Tks Wyo

[@blubberboy1897]

I could smell this video 😆

[@clayhayeshunter]

Haha 😆 it does smell good!

[@Tatorhead1234]

Still great content. Ever make it to louisiana?

[@clayhayeshunter]

On occasion. Lots of cool country over there!

[@fsfahri9255]

Is that just a water and pack of gelatin ?

[@clayhayeshunter]

Yep

[@spetsnaz1541]

Thankyou Clay Hayes. Great videos. What do you use for bowstrings?

[@clayhayeshunter]

This one will get a sinew string. That video will come in two weeks.

[@los_os3628]

ты кокой клей использовал

[@leftyhunt3395]

What’s the poundage on it

[@bonesstones6584]

Excellent video! Did you groove the back of the bow?

[@clayhayeshunter]

No. Just scraped it with the knife a little.

[@gregspangler5155]

looks good though

[@TheHuntingSpot]

Wouldn't you be concerned about the bow twisting when you put it in the dry box?

[@jarridcarter5001]

How do you find the time for all of this or is it what you do for a living? Just curious, your videos are awesome!

[@clayhayeshunter]

This is what I do now. But I worked full time and put out a new video every week for over a year before I switched. Lots of work.

[@jarridcarter5001]

Awesome! Congrats for being able to do that!

[@NorthHeart]

Clay, what was the aprox. temperature of your heat box for the drying sessions?

[@clayhayeshunter]

I haven't measured the temp. I've got two 125w bulbs in the box.

[@branni6538]

What's the punch like? 30-40lbs?

[@clayhayeshunter]

I think this one was about 45.

[@branni6538]

That's impressive. Enough to earn a meal in the Bush. Thanx.

[@fred7705]

Great vid good tips!

[@Soviless99]

id wrap the nocks with sinew completely