bow building?

[oldgun]

I have started my first bow. using a maple stave and oak. Now I ask, can I use rawhide as a backing. I've read that it can be used for a backing with hideglue. What are your thoughts on this? It will be a very long bow as I am quite tall (72 "for the bow lenght) do you know if the backing will work or not? Thanks for your opinions> by the way this is a takedown bow because of the needed size.
Best of luck this fall in your hunting!!!

[easternhunter]

Oldbow, how tall are you personally and your draw length? These things help determine how lonf a bow to build.
Yes rawhide will work very well. Just keep in mind that hideglue is water solulable, so you must seal in the backing with a finish. What are you using the oak for? is it white or red oak?
If you're laminating the oak on top of the maple you may not need the rawhise as the oak will work as backing.

Can you describe the design of bow you have in mind? The species of wood used can determine the actual desin andf dimensions of the bow itself. PM me if you need some help, or reply here...your choice.
Welcome to the world of self-built bows! It's a blast!!!
Eastern

[smj]

oldgun - how's that bow coming? Any pics to post for us, or at least an update?? I would really like to hear!

[smj]

I thought I had replied to this from Canada... I guess not! By all means you can back a bow with rawhide. Hide glue is fine, watch out for wet weather - the hide glue will come right off! Also, the rawhide should be about parchment thick, as I understand. All the backing is doing is keeping splinters from rising along the limb. Structure wise, the bow has to be sound to begin with or you will probably hinge somewhere along the length, over stress and snap maybe... The backing really keeps the back of the bow glued together, will not allow the start of a crack where the grain of the wood lifts up. Rawhide and sinue have been used on a lot of bows over the years!

Let me know if I can help in any way - I should be around again!