Ostrich sinews
I have recently found some ostrich sinews and have devided them into threads. The preparation is very easy; they are not greasy at all. Their length is about 45 centimeters. The waste is relatively small. My question is: What is the quality of the ostrich sinews for the bowmaking. I?ll be very glad if somebody has some observations to share!
Thanks in advance
Thanks in advance
I have heard that it is good. I think it can by long enough to use only full length "stripes".
If you bught it as dog food, then it may be overdried and does not separate well. I would assume that if some part separate well they would be good.
If it does not separate, it may be possible to cook it as glue.
If you bught it as dog food, then it may be overdried and does not separate well. I would assume that if some part separate well they would be good.
If it does not separate, it may be possible to cook it as glue.
My God! Where did you find them? :shock:
Domestic ostrichs are on farms for ther (delicious) meat.
interesting sinews ... almost finished divide. I think that two ostrich sinews will be enough for a one ottoman bow.
I got some from Dick's and used it to make the lashes of a bowstring which was durable (more than leather which did fail).
Will you expand your buisness to those ? I ll be your first customer.
:-) Uli
Will you expand your buisness to those ? I ll be your first customer.
:-) Uli
At the moment I only use ostrich sinew for bows. They are long, very easy to handle, not greasy, and strong enough. Maybe not as strong as from a wild animal. For composite bows I found no problems.
I got them from an ostrich farm, where they sell them as dogfood!
I got them from an ostrich farm, where they sell them as dogfood!
Can you post some pictures of that sinew? на Добър час Динко!!!PAZUZU wrote:
interesting sinews ... almost finished divide. I think that two ostrich sinews will be enough for a one ottoman bow.
here some pictures ostrich what sinew looks like: like sinew, quite long and strong enough for a turkish bow.
Vonegelut, my sinews look the same. I also read in www.primitivearcher.com negative impression for ostrich sinews to backing of composite bow .... I wonder where is the truth? :roll: :roll:
My opinion about sinew is that you should just try it, and than you will find out if it works. There is alot of people who write about things, and alot of people who just take that as to be true.
For example domestic animals without alot of movement, opposed to wild animals, have tendons that cannot be used for bowbuilding. But I have used cow tendons from swiss cows that are so tough I can barely take them apart.
However, cows from Holland are maybe unsuitable, because they only live in stables... So nothing is true right away because somebody writes that.
About greasy sinew: I sometimes soak/wash the sinew in simple dishsoap when I have the feeling it is fatty.
The only time I had problems with sinew coming of the back of a bow, was when the glue did not have the right consistency.
For example domestic animals without alot of movement, opposed to wild animals, have tendons that cannot be used for bowbuilding. But I have used cow tendons from swiss cows that are so tough I can barely take them apart.
However, cows from Holland are maybe unsuitable, because they only live in stables... So nothing is true right away because somebody writes that.
About greasy sinew: I sometimes soak/wash the sinew in simple dishsoap when I have the feeling it is fatty.
The only time I had problems with sinew coming of the back of a bow, was when the glue did not have the right consistency.
Alex,
this is true. personal experience and experimentation are important things. Shared experience of my colleagues - bow makers is also very important for me.
this is true. personal experience and experimentation are important things. Shared experience of my colleagues - bow makers is also very important for me.
Good! they are quite long enough! And it' good that they are not so greasy than a cattle tendonsalex27 wrote:
here some pictures ostrich what sinew looks like: like sinew, quite long and strong enough for a turkish bow.
На добрый час!PAZUZU wrote:
Alex,
this is true. personal experience and experimentation are important things. Shared experience of my colleagues - bow makers is also very important for me.
Pazuzu, I do agree it is important to get information from colleagues bowyers.
This forum for example, is an amazing place for that.
This forum for example, is an amazing place for that.