Finished this one about 3am this morning...

[bam_bam]

hey nick / delton how are you guys hafting your points in your handles? do you use hide glue and pitch or what? also how are yall cuttin your slots. i just wander how the natives did it with just stone tools. yall got any examples?

 

[Handgunner]

I use a dremel to cut the notches into my antlers, and either use pitch glue or epoxy.

Nick does his all the way with pitch and real sinew.

 

[Nicodemus]

Deltons right Bam Bam. In the past I have used hoof and hide glue, but in this high humidity it will get tacky.It`s still the only glue to use when you sinew back a bow though. You can make it two ways. Either boil deer hooves and rawhide scraps in just a little water for several hours, skimmin` the top occasionly till its thick, or you can mix 3 envelopes of Knox unflavored gelaton in 1\2 cup of cold water and bring to a boil, then take off the heat. Both these recipes make the same exact thing. You can use any flavor jello and follow these directions and make flavored hoof glue too! That`s all jello is! Any jello lovers out there?
It`s probably a good idea to make this glue outside, it don`t smell too good while it`s cookin`.

If you want to notch antler the way the Indians did, soak the antler in water for a day or two. While it`s soakin`, chip you out a burin out of a good piece of good raw flint. The antler will soften up and you can carve a notch in the end of it then.

 

[bam_bam]

that neat. any flavor jello, like the jello brand jello? you just cook it till it boils and the let it sit up?

 

[Nicodemus]

Any of it will work, but use the Knox Unflavored Gelaton and go by the directions I posted above. It will start slowly hardenin` up so when it gets really tacky go ahead and use stick to gather it up on the end till is about big as a walnut. Keep usin` sticks to gather it on till the pot is empty. To reuse these glue sticks, just soak it in cold water till it`s soft enough to apply.

Don`t use one of your wifes better pots for this, it will never come clean again, so it will be your glue pot from now on.

 

[bam_bam]

gotta try it, thankee

 

[Handgunner]

Nick, so you mean that brand new non-stick pot I got for Jamie on Christmas, I have on the stove going right now won't be good no more????? :banginhe

 

[Nicodemus]

You in a heap o` trouble Boy!!!

 

[Handgunner]

Uh oh.


Well, it's easier to ask for forgiveness, than permission... right?

 

[Nicodemus]

Thanks Cal!! I`ll be in touch!

 

[pendy]

Delton

nice work.

 

[bam_bam]

nick you a bowyer too? you said about backing a bow an i wuzz justa wanderin

 

[Nicodemus]

Bam Bam, I know the fundamentals of bow-makin` and have set in on hundreds of hours while some of my friends made them, but chasin` a growth ring, tillerin`, and all the fine points of shapin` a bow is mean work to me. A good friend of mine has a select osage stave he`s holdin` onto for me and says that he will not stop aggravatin` me till I make a bow out of it. One day I will give in a make it so he will leave me alone!! Arrows and atlatl darts are another thing though, I like makin` them.

 

[bam_bam]

yeah know all about makin arrows and such, i just need to get me a bow. i would like to have a hickory or osage. but cant find anyone to show me the skill.

 

[Auchumpkee Creek Assassin]

nice point

 

[Nicodemus]

HEY DELTON, I`m still waitin` on that Tallahassee..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................Hurryup!!! While I`m still young!

 

[Handgunner]

Nick, I'm still learnin'.... patience son..... patience!