Rawhide string

[richard16372]

Very nice video and I will have to try this.

Thanks

Richard

[CaveManWannabe]

I love your entire series I Just cut a hornbeam stave about 4 days ago and I've watch your builds about 10 times. I also just got a groundhog about 2 weeks ago and have the hide drying now and I'm going to make the string out of that. Do you need to use a smaller disk of hide or could you just get a bigger circle and cut it extra long and just use it as you need it. I was thinking it would save on the humps in the hide when you get to the middle of the circle.

[bcgrover]

@CaveManWannabe I'd cut he largest circle you can. Should be able to get a nice string.

[bcgrover]

@CaveManWannabe I'd cut he largest circle you can. Should be able to get a nice string.

[TheTribeOfBenjamin]

thanks for posting this video! I hope to try this with some squirrel hides.

[kyletango]

Thanks, glad I saw this vid. I plan to make an osage bow this summer and was wondering what to use to make a string. I did see one vid were the guy was using short pieces of tendon and braiding to make a string, but for me this is more practical.

[T3hJones]

Great video. I got snow shoes on my mind and for that I need raw hide string!

[davidringosr]

I'll try a squirrel (rawhide) string next . will let you know how that works for me . dave (davidringosr@yahoo.com)

[davidringosr]

love this video - made a string ,from from your show ,working great.will be watching with much interest,from now on . dave (davidringosr@yahoo.com) thanks soo much

[bcgrover]

It's good to know someone actually made a string after watching my video. Hope it works out well for you, mine usually last quite a while.

BTW, squirrel rawhide is supposed to be the best. I've seen a string made from squirrel with the hair left one once and it was pretty cool.

[seanetc]

Hey so can you use cowhide? Need it for a 50lb bow.

Where do you think i can get it from?

[bcgrover]

@seanetc Not sure if you can use cowhide or not. I never have tried.

Squirrels are supposed to be the best. Not sure where you can buy it from. I might sell you a small piece if you want to make a string.

[jccrick123]

@seanetc

hey you can use cowhide but people usually use them to make ranch ropes with the hide

and cowhide doesnt break you only way you break it is if you cut it but it usually has to be

a very sharp knife

[Mrlnwizard8]

This is an awesome video. Just found your channel, I will be watching all your vids. Nice job!

[MrSnorreke]

...and yes, what is a goal to put rowhide strip in vinegar, and if it is needed how much?

[bcgrover]

@MrSnorreke No need to soak it in vinegar.

[MrSnorreke]

Thank you. Yes, there's squirrels here but i need to shoot them first;-), do not have a nerves to wait for squirrel, sheep hide is easy to obtain. In medieval times Serbian bowyers used rawhide bowstrings obtained from horses among all other things for reflex bows. Greets!

[MrSnorreke]

Mate, your videos are real treasure. You helped me to discover some ancient techniques. Thank you. Question: can i use sheep hide? And is this possible rawhide string to stand 70lb? Thank you again and greets from Serbia. You are amazing.Wish you all the best.

[bcgrover]

@MrSnorreke Never tried sheepskin, but 1 would think it would work fine. Squirrels and groundhogs are supposed to make the best rawhide strings. Any squirrels nearby? :-)

[whdruen123]

i like this video. it seems so easy. how long do you let the weights hang on the string as you/after you twist the rawhide. have you ever tried to splice sinew strands into a bowstring. you may have demonstrated it in one of your previous videoes. if so, it has been a while since i last saw it. you make excellant and informative videoes. keep up the good work.

[bcgrover]

I let them hang overnight, or until the string is completely dry.

[5tonyvvvv]

@bcgrover whats kinds of hides can be used?sheep goat.cow.and will catgut intestene from sheep work?

[bcgrover]

I've only used Whitetail rawhide, but I heard the best hide to use is from squirrel.

[deerslayer048]

Thanks posting this video on here because I didnt know you could make bowstrings out of rawhide. I made one for my recurve the other day and its awsome.

[barnehagefanden]

Exelent stuff Boomer! But squirrel hide is not the strongest hide. Strings made from squirrel are strong because of the many plyes because of the small size. The strongest hides are Crokodile, kangaroo and catfish:D Catfish skin is considered waste in the fishindustry, so I just collected 24 skins for free:D And they are tough as bad weather!! And if you dont tie the ends together you can put just one end throug the loop and then spin it like you do. Your loop will be more fixed. good stuff :D

[5tonyvvvv]

@barnehagefanden do u know anything about catgut strings?

[5tonyvvvv]

@barnehagefanden sheep intenctens

[barnehagefanden]

@5tonyvvvv sheep:P Have not tried catgut, its against my religion.. but I hav made one string from rabbitintectins. Its okay, but sinewstrings work better. Catfish rawhide strings are the second best to sinewstrings in my mind. Realy strong skin that can give you a slender, light but tough string. But it does tend to smell a bit fishy...:P

[barnehagefanden]

@5tonyvvvv you're dumb! jees, ther's nothing like youtubecomments to give me hope in humans... I sincearly apologise for not including your feelings in my reply to your questions conserning string materials. And not that you have the faintest right no know, but I'm christian and I eat meat. meat is good. What I know about gutstrings is that they were used on asian composites in a endles loop string, with or without tied on loops.

Sorry for all this Boomer

[nephildevil]

awesome! that is the kind of string i want for my primitive bow

working on it right now

don't know if the porkrind from the petshop is upto it tho

[kauboy9816]

Is there any rule of thumb on what poundage rawhide can be used with?

I assume it's no problem on a 40-50lb draw weight, but would it hold up on 60+?

Info on this is sparse at best, and I can't seem to find an adequate answer.

[bcgrover]

I haven't had one break yet, so I cannot tell you for sure.

But, it would make sense that if you cut the strips wider it would have to be stronger. Just might have to have an oversized arrow nock.

Squirrel is supposed to be the strongest, make one and give it a pule test. I bet we would be surprised how much weight it could handle.

[5tonyvvvv]

@kauboy9816 i guess if u made it thick enough,but then u would need bigger thicker arrows

[Mayes041]

Man! Now I really want to make one!

[Estonian7]

Nice dog:D

[Estonian7]

Oh,Your right!:D My bad!

[fishgut73]

great video. where do you get your rawhide?

[bcgrover]

I get all my rawhide from a local gentleman. He collects, scrapes, stretches, and dries a bunch every year.

[brutallindigo]

Squirrels.... I would of never thought that thanks for the vid keep them going .;-)

[Estonian7]

Nice video!Subscribed:)...No loop in the other end but i guess its not hard to make...

[bcgrover]

You use a "Bowyers Knot" (Timberhitch) on the other end to adjust for length.

[kauboy9816]

So the hide is pliable enough to tie a knot in when dry?

Or do you need to soften it up before trying to tie the timber hitch?

[bcgrover]

The hide is soft enough to tie the hitch.

[Trophybow1]

Wow! Thank you for sharing this! This is very interesting!

[brutallindigo]

Awesome ! like the trick with the loop ..How much weight could that string handle?

[bcgrover]

I'm not sure of the maximum. I use them on a 47# bow and don't have any issues. The strongest rawhide for strings is supposed to come from squirrels.