Should be laying on my old tired backside watching the Olympics on TV but will try to provide a little bit of information. It's just about impossible to put in words, and I'm not very good at doing pictures (and the only way to really learn it is to WATCH and then DO IT about 30 or 40 times since every piece of rawhide is different).
Here's the attempt by words.
1. Cut 2 pieces of rawhide, which should have a UNIFORM thickness of about 1/32 of an inch .... one piece 2 inches by 7 1/2 inches, the other 1 inch by 30 inches plus.
2. Make sure the handle and head are precision fitted, the handle should be slightly "domed" and near-flush to the top of the head, and should be VERY firmly seated with lots of linseed oil in the eye and allowed to dry for 2 or 3 days minimum.
3. Soak the rawhide in HOT water with a few drops of dish detergent as a wetting agent for ABOUT an hour (you'll have to "feel" it to see if it's getting properly soft). Before use, each piece of rawhide needs to be pre-stretched over a hardwood dowel.
4. Start with the 2 inch piece which goes over the top of the head. Secure some artificial sinew with multiple wraps immediately beneath the head, and use that to secure the 2 inch strip over the head (pulling it VERY tight with pliers). You'll likely have to trim it some to match the handle contour. Continue the wrap in a spiral down the rawhide to the bottom and tie it off, without cutting it loose from the spool.
5. Start the 1 inch strip below the bottom of the 2 inch strip, at an angle. Tie it off with the sinew and spiral wrap the sinew back to under the head, tie it off, and cut it. Wrap the 1 inch strip up the handle, overlapping half the width of the strip, to the top of the handle. Pull the end through the last wrap, and cinch it up. You will need the pliers again. The wrap MUST be VERY tight. Trim the end where it comes out from underneath the wrap with a razor.
6. Use a WHITE nylon cord to wrap over the edge of the handle wrap VERY tightly on the spiral to keep it from "sucking out" as it dries. It also helps to over-wrap the whole thing with gauze or another porous strong cloth wrap until it is fully dried. Hang the hawk over a heat source or in a dry, warm room for a couple of days before unwrapping the handle coverings.
7. Pray that it shrinks down properly. Varnish heavily to prevent picking up moisture, which will cause it to loosen up again.
Rawhide-wrapping hawks is NOT my most favorite thing. However, the "Indian Fiberglass" definitely helps reduce the chance of broken handles in the field when you miss a cut.
Hope this information helps.
TWO HAWKS
http://www.2hawks.net
