rubber cement
hi,this is a question to Thomas Duvernay or anyone who got experience
with rubbercement.As far as I`ve heard do the Koreans use rubbercement
to glue the birchbark on the back of the bow.Is that really an ancient mate-
rial and do they use the water-based or the solvent-based ?How long is the
open time before it gets sticky? Thanks for answers.... Stefan
with rubbercement.As far as I`ve heard do the Koreans use rubbercement
to glue the birchbark on the back of the bow.Is that really an ancient mate-
rial and do they use the water-based or the solvent-based ?How long is the
open time before it gets sticky? Thanks for answers.... Stefan
Rubber cement is a modern invention. Several modern materials have entered traditional Korean bow and arrow making in the last hundred years. Hide or fish glue would have been the original adhesive, but modern glues set faster. This use of modern materials is usually confined to areas not under high stress and where they will not be seen.
Rubber was used in the Tropics historically for waterproofing I have read somewhere, but that was in its natural state which is not so resilient as the modern processes make it.
Rubber was used in the Tropics historically for waterproofing I have read somewhere, but that was in its natural state which is not so resilient as the modern processes make it.
Hi Bede,thanks for your reply!
I?ve tried to glue birchbark,rawhide and silk on the back of my koreans,
always with hideglue.After shooting for a couple of weeks, all covers began
to get cracks and to come loose in the bending zone.My idea was that this
happened because of the extreme bend of the korean bow and I?m just
looking for the right or authentic adhesive.
I?ve tried to glue birchbark,rawhide and silk on the back of my koreans,
always with hideglue.After shooting for a couple of weeks, all covers began
to get cracks and to come loose in the bending zone.My idea was that this
happened because of the extreme bend of the korean bow and I?m just
looking for the right or authentic adhesive.
Since hide glue depends on the lost of moisture in part to gel, it might be the method of application that needs looking at. I cannot remember where, but I remember something about letting the glue set on each surface and then using a hot iron to plasticise the glue to attach the birch bark.
I have not tried this and I would advise trying it on a test piece like a flexible piece of wood before risking a bow. Setting time might be critical too. Adam Karpowicz would have some good ideas on this.
I have not tried this and I would advise trying it on a test piece like a flexible piece of wood before risking a bow. Setting time might be critical too. Adam Karpowicz would have some good ideas on this.
Thanks again,Bede
you?re probably right that the technique of application is the most important
thing! I?ll ask Adam or Thomas...Stefan
you?re probably right that the technique of application is the most important
thing! I?ll ask Adam or Thomas...Stefan