Backing a bow with Rawhide (how to)

[@jeremyknop5378]

I'm not making a bow I'm actually making a rawhide covered Viking shield but couldn't find any actual videos of gluing rawhide to wood. This vid has helped me a lot. Thank you for your post.

[@clayhayeshunter]

You’re welcome 😉

[@Glader08]

I'm still very envious of that old vise you're using. I love it

[@clayhayeshunter]

Yea, that thing is great. Poke around in old barns and you might find one someday.

[@simon_far]

+Glader08 I know this is an old comment, but I just had to mention: That is a "leg vise" or a "post vise" and is primarily used for blacksmithing, the long metal "leg" that comes out of the bottom is embedded into the ground for support while pounding on whatever is in the vise.

[@jessebaker9603]

Clay, surgical tubing or flats was what we gunsmiths used to pull broken gunstocks together while the adhesive was curing. the adhesive was, of course, Acra-Glass.

[@ripfletching]

I am curious do you notice any performance change positively or negatively by adding rawhide also on average how many pounds does it add to your drawl weight

[@svent1000]

Dos IT change the performance of the bow? Slow it down or make IT faster? Dos it add much weigth?

[@HK-mr4rv]

Hi Clay. I currently have. 70 inch Osage flatbow pulling 67 lbs at 28 in. It’s a pretty strong bow. It’s my first bow and Im pretty happy with it. I’ve shot it about 10 times no with no issues. Is it necessary to back a bow that heavy? I’m considering a rawhide backing. Are there any risks or disadvantages to doing that to my bow? Do you think rawhide backing would be a safe preventative way to preserve my bow?

[@clayhayeshunter]

There is no need to back a well made Osage bow.

[@HK-mr4rv]

Clay Hayes thanks Clay

[@jmanfly87]

Thanks for the info keep it coming I would like to see more Nav and hunting. I live in SC Kansas on the boarder and have got plenty of Osage O .I'm waiting for a log to dry up so I can try to make my first bow

[@clayhayeshunter]

Awsome, split that log and she'll dry much faster.

[@danielfisher9344]

What does the rawhide do for the bow? Can you back a bow with a couple of coats of epoxy to seal it and add strength to the wood grain? Thanks, Daniel

[@johnnsinky1476]

Will this help reduce string follow and set? I know it adds some poundage, but I have a flat bow that takes a good amount of set, it still shoots well at 60# at 26", but when I unstring it and hold the string taught the "unstrung brace height is a good 3-4") can backing it improve this? Is there anything else I can do i. Addition? Thanks

[@clayhayeshunter]

Backing with rawhide won't reduce your string follow. Sinew might. You could steam and reflex the limb tips as shown in the second part of the bow building series. You might also steam the handle and put some reflex in there as well.

[@Serenity-jg1fc]

i would recommend using bicycle inner tire tubes. you get alot of pressure when wrapping them around the rawhide and the bow and also they dont stick to the glue, also you can use them again and again :)

[@clayhayeshunter]

Inner tube is great for a lot of things. I always keep some in my truck for binding things together. But, I wouldn't use it for wrapping a bow backing because it impedes the drying process. The rubber just holds in the moisture.

[@pyt2music]

Your videos are very well done keep making them!

[@Ntwadumela]

Thank you! This may sound silly but, Does the backing come before the tillering or after?

[@clayhayeshunter]

After floor tillering but before final tillering.

[@Ntwadumela]

AH! Thank you. I figured it was something like that. I have learned much from you. Thanks again. I wish I could contribute more than verbal gratitude. Hard times... I must make a bow to hunt for food!

[@Aaron-ud6wk]

Very well done instructional video!

[@clayhayeshunter]

+Aaron Luna thanks

[@tommybarrios3307]

Hi Clay, I'm in the process of building a self bow using ash. I was wondering, if a bow is complete and time has passed, can you always choose to back it raw hide at a later time. I was planning on sealing it with tongue oil, six or seven coats by your recommendations. Will Tight Bond III stick to sealed wood or would I have to strip it down. As always thanks for sharing.

[@clayhayeshunter]

Yeah, you can add rawhide later. Just scrape the sealer off the back and apply the rawhide.

[@tommybarrios3307]

@@clayhayeshunter Do you back all your bows?

[@billyjoedenny]

yep, great timing ...i needed your thoughts on backing my bow... thanks so much clay. ..bill

[@randywalton6968]

i am making an ash longbow (2nd bow), two pieces "z-spliced", doweled, and glued together at the handle. I will have a thin wood backing plate on the back of the bow to cover the splice on the back side of the bow. Can I glue this backing plate (and tip overlays) over rawhide backing, or would this not be a sound gluing surface for the backing plate and tip overlays? Would it be better to cut the rawhide around the backing plate and tip overlays.

[@clayhayeshunter]

I would just taper the rawhide down to bare wood in those areas then glue on your overlays.

[@randywalton6968]

Thanks for your quick reply to me question. More generally, thanks for your videos. Perfect balance of demonstration and explanation keeps me watching (sometimes binge-watching) and learning.

[@cumah1]

Another GREAT video Clay!

[@hakanwedin5869]

Hi Clay, Thanks for a great vid! Why is rawhide used instead of another material? As a safety precaution, in the event that the bow breaks, can one use leatherette (imitation leather) along the back of the bow instead of rawhide? The leatherette I have to my disposal is pretty thin so I assume that it won't add a lot of mass to the bow in comparison to rawhide? What do you think of this, is it a good idea? Thank you. Hakan

[@clayhayeshunter]

Hakan Wedin Rawhide is very tough and light weight. I would suspect that the imitation material would not make a good backing but could be wrong. I've never tried it.

[@tomoldharp513]

So glad I found this video! I need to back a Cedar bow and I have been going back and forth between fiberglass and rawhide. This confirmed I am going with rawhide. With that being said. How do you protect the rawhide if it were to rain while hunting?

[@clayhayeshunter]

+Tom Harpold that depends on how primitive you want to go. The best thing I've found is to saturate everything with CA glue aka superglue, let that dry, sand it down, then deal with tung oil.

[@surfer4478]

Doesn't the CA keep the tung oil from being absorbed?

[@DouglasEKnappMSAOM]

@@surfer4478 I know, 2 years. I think he means CA glue is better than tung oil.

[@77grundy]

So you don't need the rawhide to be a single continuous piece from tip to tip? It looked like you only put rawhide on from the handle to the tip, so did you put a second piece on the lower half too?

[@clayhayeshunter]

Yes, the whole bow is covered with rawhide. It's fine to overlap at the handle.

[@kyletango]

I have never made a bow, but would like to. My question is : what is the purpose of putting sinew or rawhide on the back of your bow?

[@clayhayeshunter]

kyletango Sinew will add a layer of protection plus add tension to the back which will usually improve performance. Rawhide is mostly for added insurance to protect the back from breaking.

[@mitchellbarlow8779]

Clay Hayes That was going to be my Q. Additionally, how much more draw strength will be added to the bow?

[@DouglasEKnappMSAOM]

Does the extra mass drop the FPS? How much?

[@clayhayeshunter]

There are too many factors that play into FPS to answer that.

[@ianmoore2850]

As seone who is completely new to the idea of bowyering Can you do a rawhide backing over a bamboo backing and can you use rawhide glue or maybe fiberglass resin

[@clayhayeshunter]

Ian Moore You could put rawhide on the back of any bow but I'm not sure you'd want to. You can certainly use hide glue but I'm not sure about resin. Never tried that.

[@ianmoore2850]

thanks ive been looking into making a bow cause my parents wont let me have firearms

[@clayhayeshunter]

Ah, a bow is more fun that a rifle anyhow!

[@johnjriggsarchery2457]

Ian Moore I wouldn't use a resin because it may reduce the elasticity of rawhide. I experimented with an acetone/epoxy finish on a rawhide backed bow and it just didn't act right.

[@ianmoore2850]

ok thanks

[@nathanadolph8311]

would like to know how much rawhide and and steps to repair an older wood bow ,there is a split crack about 1" or so across and if this is able to be fixed right so it will be safe to shoot

[@clayhayeshunter]

+nathan adolph it really depends on where the crack is. If it's across the back in the working part of the limb it's probably not repairable.

[@TheElvenArcher]

Could I use a dog toy rawhide bone for this? I think if I soaked it and untied it it would function essentially the same

[@clayhayeshunter]

TheElvenArcher I've never done it but have heard of people using rawhide bones. Deer rawhide is much higher quality than that from larger animals (like rawhide bones) because it is so thin. You want to avoid adding a bunch of mass to the limbs if at all possible.

[@archerynut]

Kind of a late comment but I've tried the rawhide chews from pet stores. They're similar. But the chess are made from very thick rawhide and the thickness varies throughout each piece. I guess if you thinned it evenly without going right through it could work.

[@nephildevil]

does this increase the poundage much?

[@clayhayeshunter]

a few pounds maybe. Sinew backing is another story though.

[@nephildevil]

Clay Hayes so it's mostly for protection then?

[@clayhayeshunter]

yep

[@florianweienberg9563]

I have two questions: 1. Does the application of the rawhide have an effect on the draft of the bow? 2. Is it advisable to do something like this with ash?

[@clayhayeshunter]

By draft I assume you mean draw. Adding rawhide will increase the weight by a few pounds. Rawhide will give a bit of insurance to any now with a questionable back.

[@milesarchery6010]

Hi clay good video! Can I steam a bow with a piece of rawhide glued to the bow or should i steam the bow to make my reflex before adding rawhide?? Thanks! (I really enjoy what you share, it's so clear that i understand everything even if i have a bad english)👍

[@clayhayeshunter]

heat bend before the rawhide.

[@starwars5151]

Hi Clay, i just split my 1 year old vine maple stave, and now I noticed that the growth rings are paper thin,I will say that there is maybe just a little bit more late wood than the early one,should I back it, stave is 69 " long?

[@clayhayeshunter]

Star Wars I've never worked with vine maple but suspect that it's much different than osage. It probably is more like other whitewoods like hickory. I'd just remove the bark and use the wood underneath as your back. You could back it with rawhide for added insurance if you want.

[@danielschuster3935]

What does backing the bow do?

[@clayhayeshunter]

Hi Daniel, backing a bow with rawhide gives you some added protection when the back is questionable. I don't usually back osage bows, but this one had some cracks crossing the grain on the back. This bow would never have held together without backing.

[@danielschuster3935]

sweet thanks

[@branni6538]

What poundage does the backing add roughly please? Is it 20+lbs?

[@clayhayeshunter]

A few lbs at best.

[@andrewsmith3655]

Mr.Hayes do is still have to follow the growth rings if I intend to back the bow with rawhide?

[@clayhayeshunter]

I would still try to fallow it somewhat, but it's not critical.

[@1999cdawg]

I'm roughing out a bow right now, and I want to back it with rawhide. Do you recommend backing the bow before you tiller or after? Or does it matter?

[@clayhayeshunter]

Christian Adams I back mine just before final tillering. backing will change the tiller a little if you wait until it's done.

[@whoblowsthere002]

Wat different woods have you used for bows? Aside from Osage, what would be your second choice?

[@clayhayeshunter]

There are lots of good woods. Pacific yew is great, but hard to find. Eastern red cedar is also very good but it needs to be backed. Hickory is nearly bullet proof.

[@jefflwarling6304]

Thanks Clay! I've only ever backed my bows with Sinew, definately something i wanna try now

[@clayhayeshunter]

Sinew is great stuff but a whole lot of work. Rawhide doesn't provide the back tension that sinew does, but it's much quicker.

[@nathankeppers3514]

Hey how are you. What is better to back with,sinew or rawhide. Or are they pretty much the same. Thanks

[@clayhayeshunter]

both are good, but very different. Rawhide won't create reflex tension like sinew will. Sinew is a lot of work though.

[@jefflwarling6304]

Did applying the rawhide backing affect your final tiller at all?

[@clayhayeshunter]

No, not at all. Sinew backing sometimes will affect the tiller a little, but rawhide doesn't usually.

[@branni6538]

Can the rawhide be glued with hide glue?

[@clayhayeshunter]

Yes

[@r.s.7510]

The rawhide is still damp when u laid it on the glue??

[@clayhayeshunter]

Yes

[@eriknadoban8877]

I love you videos. I just got your book Traditional Bowhunting, looking forward to reading it. Just wondering whats the difference between Sinew and Rawhide backing? Is it that it does the same job but the rawhide is just easier to apply? Keep making the videos if you can, they are really good Thanks E

[@clayhayeshunter]

Sinew and rawhide are very different. Sinew adds strength and actually draws the bow into a back set. Rawhide just helps protect the back and adds nothing to performance.

[@jolllyroger1]

You can back with news paper cardboard blue jeans old sheets and many other things..... Those things I said can be epoxy saturated layered or you can use wood glue if sealed but epoxy makes amazing back.... Carbon fiber tows glass flax fibers and natural fibers of almost any kind that are strong and long

[@frankdidomenico2125]

appreiciate your videos man. just learnin to make bows . what other wood you like besides osage? thank you a lot.

[@clayhayeshunter]

+Frank DiDomenico there are lots of good woods. Yew, hickory, vine maple, etc.

[@michaeltaylor321]

can i do this on a self bow with a shelf that's already been shot

[@clayhayeshunter]

Yes

[@asietoshautar4654]

can i use other type of woodglue for sinew backing

[@clayhayeshunter]

+Asietosh Autar you can but hide glue works best.

[@Kashtukprimal]

Awesome video as usual!

[@sebseb915]

would doing this heighten the draw weight?

[@clayhayeshunter]

+Sebastian Fuglsang Holm maybe a few lbs.

[@POPERYLEE]

does it make the bow stronger

[@clayhayeshunter]

[e-mail] Potentially. The main reason to back a bow is to guard against a cracked back. Short, highly stressed bows will benefit. Longer bows, not so much.

[@POPERYLEE]

ok thanks caus ima do it to my short bow

[@jaymewright7272]

Can you design and paint the rawhide from there like the Indians used too

[@clayhayeshunter]

Jayme Wright yes you can

[@chuckgdry]

I think I'll do that to my next bow. Thanks

[@duffy1298]

do you sell your bows?

[@clayhayeshunter]

Not often, but I give lessons. Check out www.twistedstave.com for more info.

[@garychynne1377]

VERY INFORMATIVE. EVEN A DUM IDIOT COULD MAKE A BOW IF THEY WATCHED YOU. GOOD STUFF. TAKE CARE GARE.

[@clayhayeshunter]

Thanks Gary

[@dariuswhite2543]

@@clayhayeshunter how long does rawh IU de take to dry out and harden

[@landtawney1491]

Nice shirt!

[@clayhayeshunter]

Yep, check out www.backcountryhunters.org to see the back. It's pretty sweet.

[@CrimewaveContent]

you look so young here

[@nathanadolph8311]

catedancequeen

[@coreymcniel3390]

Hmmm... I finally followed Ann's advice and took Stodoys plans. It's great for beginners and has some advanced stuff too.

[@andreejmarbbf52]

I did it with Stodoys plans.

[@Justin-op8gg]

You should delete this for backing 2.0

[@errolstanding8483]

Can strips of sinew be placed under the rawhide?

[@clayhayeshunter]

Sure but rawhide over sinew is overkill