Anyone know how to do this? Make string or cord from the sinew of animals? I know that the indians used to make all sorts of things with it, including their bowstrings. I on the other hand have gutted, skinned, and butchered countless deer and wouldn't know a sinew if someone slapped me upside the head with it. Anyone (Greg maybe?) ever actually done this?
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String/cord from animal sinew
- Thread starter JHall
- Start date
There are six places on an animal such as a DEER where you find sinew. Two are on either side of the backbone directly above the backstraps. It is a wide strip of SILVERY muscle. The easiest way to remove this it to take a long thin knife and carefully find one edge. Slide the knife under it and use the BACK to pull it UP! You may then be able to use the knife to release it along the entire length. THis is the longest pieces.
The other four pieces are the backs of the legs. The sinew is not flat here, but rather in a bundle like a large cord. This is much easier to remove.
You will want to carefully remove all meat and fat from these and allow them to dry.
You can take the dried sinew and POUND it to loosen the fibers. These may then be peeled apart. To use as fibers, it is often best to dampen them to make them pliable. The Indians used to put them in their mouth to moisten them as they worked with premoistened sinew. Not my method!
I used a small bowl of warm water.
I hope this helps some! It's been a couple of years since I had my hands on sinew I killed!
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Plainsman
primitiveguy@hotmail.com
You use what you have on you, then you improvise!
The other four pieces are the backs of the legs. The sinew is not flat here, but rather in a bundle like a large cord. This is much easier to remove.
You will want to carefully remove all meat and fat from these and allow them to dry.
You can take the dried sinew and POUND it to loosen the fibers. These may then be peeled apart. To use as fibers, it is often best to dampen them to make them pliable. The Indians used to put them in their mouth to moisten them as they worked with premoistened sinew. Not my method!
I hope this helps some! It's been a couple of years since I had my hands on sinew I killed!
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Plainsman
primitiveguy@hotmail.com
You use what you have on you, then you improvise!
- Joined
- Nov 29, 1999
- Messages
- 632
Great answer Plainsman. Nothing to add. I use it when I have it. I also use false senew from time to time when I don't have any.
I just used some the other day to repair a break in a piece of bamboo that I have. I use its open end to attach a small piece of Yucca. The bamboo provides a straight stalk and when the yucca is attached the whole thing makes a great hand drill.
------------------
Greg Davenport
http://www.ssurvival.com
Are You Ready For The Challenge?
Are You Ready To Learn The Art Of Wilderness Survival?
I just used some the other day to repair a break in a piece of bamboo that I have. I use its open end to attach a small piece of Yucca. The bamboo provides a straight stalk and when the yucca is attached the whole thing makes a great hand drill.
------------------
Greg Davenport
http://www.ssurvival.com
Are You Ready For The Challenge?
Are You Ready To Learn The Art Of Wilderness Survival?
You can braid small pieced together (adding
as you close to the end) and make a long
piece. Wetted down and rolled makes a great
bow string.
Has anyone used the tip of yucca pulled down
the leaf with strands hooked on for sewing?
Maybe it's common place. My dad showed that
to me about 40 years ago.
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http://www.imt.net/~goshawk
Don't walk in tradition just because it feels good!!!!!
Romans 10:9,10
Hebrews 4:12-16
Psalm 91
as you close to the end) and make a long
piece. Wetted down and rolled makes a great
bow string.
Has anyone used the tip of yucca pulled down
the leaf with strands hooked on for sewing?
Maybe it's common place. My dad showed that
to me about 40 years ago.
------------------
http://www.imt.net/~goshawk
Don't walk in tradition just because it feels good!!!!!
Romans 10:9,10
Hebrews 4:12-16
Psalm 91
Forget the sinew, it's just too tough and short. A better way to get a decent string is to used the guts of an animal. Even smaller animals have quite a long digestion tract, which you can use as a string. Remember the old days when violin strings were made of cat guts and cellos strings from sheep. They can withstand quite an amount of tension and abrasion.
The trick is how to prepare the guts after cleaning them. My uneducated guess is that they get twisted before you dry them. For stronger strings, you need several guts twisted together. When they are dry you have to make them smooth again by applying some kind of fat or oil.
A good idea might be to do some research on how old baroque instruments were built.
The trick is how to prepare the guts after cleaning them. My uneducated guess is that they get twisted before you dry them. For stronger strings, you need several guts twisted together. When they are dry you have to make them smooth again by applying some kind of fat or oil.
A good idea might be to do some research on how old baroque instruments were built.
JHALL: "false" sinew is also known as ARTIFICIAL sinew. And that is exactly what it is, ARTIFICIAL, i.e. manmade string that is supposed to look and act like sinew, but it isn't perfect.
You can use sinew just like any cordage making material. Twist it and "braid" it like making a flemish string will make longer stronger pieces.
The gut comments got me to thinking. I've often heard of its usage, but also don't know how to prepare it! Good question!
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Plainsman
primitiveguy@hotmail.com
You use what you have on you, then you improvise!
You can use sinew just like any cordage making material. Twist it and "braid" it like making a flemish string will make longer stronger pieces.
The gut comments got me to thinking. I've often heard of its usage, but also don't know how to prepare it! Good question!
------------------
Plainsman
primitiveguy@hotmail.com
You use what you have on you, then you improvise!
Artificial sinew is really great stuff. It
may not be perfect but it is way ahead of
what's in second place. I use it to sew all
my sheaths and for repair of anything from
wood to soft material. It's wax covered
nylon and comes on spools and is rather
flat. I have two older spools and the wax
was darker the new spool that I just got is
very light in color. I rate it for my use
right there with duct tape or baling wire.
which everyone knows keeps the world going.
------------------
http://www.imt.net/~goshawk
Don't walk in tradition just because it feels good!!!!!
Romans 10:9,10
Hebrews 4:12-16
Psalm 91
may not be perfect but it is way ahead of
what's in second place. I use it to sew all
my sheaths and for repair of anything from
wood to soft material. It's wax covered
nylon and comes on spools and is rather
flat. I have two older spools and the wax
was darker the new spool that I just got is
very light in color. I rate it for my use
right there with duct tape or baling wire.
which everyone knows keeps the world going.
------------------
http://www.imt.net/~goshawk
Don't walk in tradition just because it feels good!!!!!
Romans 10:9,10
Hebrews 4:12-16
Psalm 91
I have never seen the artificial stuff in stores. Can anyone tell me where I could get some? Especially since deer season is over now
and we have already finished cleaning everything, so it will be next year before I get to try the real thing. Although I have read that a lot of people go to butcher shops to get sinew from cows and use that. BTW, here is an interesting tip. I heard that if you are going to use beef sinew ask the butcher for the stuff that comes from the neck area. It is supposed to be the best on a cow. Thanks everyone.
Should be able to find art. sin. at craft stores or leather stores. Try The Leather
Factory. I think they have a web site.
Knife making supply houses should have it.
saddle shops hope this helps. I can't remember where I got mine right at the moment
but If you can't locate any at the above e-mail me and I will find where I got mine.
------------------
http://www.imt.net/~goshawk
Don't walk in tradition just because it feels good!!!!!
Romans 10:9,10
Hebrews 4:12-16
Psalm 91
Factory. I think they have a web site.
Knife making supply houses should have it.
saddle shops hope this helps. I can't remember where I got mine right at the moment
but If you can't locate any at the above e-mail me and I will find where I got mine.
------------------
http://www.imt.net/~goshawk
Don't walk in tradition just because it feels good!!!!!
Romans 10:9,10
Hebrews 4:12-16
Psalm 91
I get my artifical sinew from Tandy Leather supply but I think I have seen it at saddle shops once in a while. I read a thing on using gut for cord in the old days and it was quite a process. after being cleaned out it was stripped down to about the third layer. I beleive there are about 5 layer to the small intestine, if I remember right is is called the submucal layer and this is what was then streached out and left to dry for cord or violin string.
After doing some online research I found these links regarding strings made from guts http://www.sover.net/~schwacke/ http://www.sover.net/~schwacke/sogood.htm http://www.babolat.com/usa/usa/uindex.htm
It seems they are mainly used for tennis or badminton rackets.
No word of course, how they are made.
It seems they are mainly used for tennis or badminton rackets.
No word of course, how they are made.