Leather thongs............oo er missis

  • Come along to the amazing Summer Moot (21st July - 2nd August), a festival of bushcrafting and camping in a beautiful woodland PLEASE CLICK HERE for more information.
Eric_Methven said:
If you get yourself a plastic thong cutter from Le Prevo leathers and some scrap leather (coats, bags etc,) from charity shops you can make miles of thong. Then if you tie a round plait (lariat plait) it'll work well on your fire bow.

Eric

Thats a good idea, thanks Eric. I saw Le Prevo mentioned in some previous threads, but did not know what to ask for. I shall go and have a look at a plastic thong cutter and what to do with it.
Cheers...................Jon
 
I use a flat leather thong made of split grey horse hide and as far as a bow I use a tapered bamboo stave about 1" at the widest and about 27-29" long with no bowing in it till the thong is wrapped around the spindle. This gives a good amount of friction to grip the spindle and keeps the thong from slipping during the sawing action.
CG :yo:
 
Carcajou Garou said:
I use a flat leather thong made of split grey horse hide and as far as a bow I use a tapered bamboo stave about 1" at the widest and about 27-29" long with no bowing in it till the thong is wrapped around the spindle. This gives a good amount of friction to grip the spindle and keeps the thong from slipping during the sawing action.
CG :yo:

Hi CG........I do not think I could hold the horse still to be able to do that, they kick you know......Seriously though do you have to have holes in each end of the bamboo to help hold the leather...............Jon
 
Yes I drill out 1/4" holes at each end about a 1/2" from the ends, the thong has the ends tapered to pass thru the holes one end is fixed and by adjusting the loose end I can accomadate the dia of the spindle I use (I also rough the exterior of the spindle to give a better gripping surface for the thong). I use a moose antler socket (lubbed) as my bearing block. I wish I could show a picture of my drill kit but my son does not live with us anymore and I really don't know how to get the pictures on the computer, sorry. CG :yo:
 
Carcajou Garou said:
Yes I drill out 1/4" holes at each end about a 1/2" from the ends, the thong has the ends tapered to pass thru the holes one end is fixed and by adjusting the loose end I can accomadate the dia of the spindle I use (I also rough the exterior of the spindle to give a better gripping surface for the thong). I use a moose antler socket (lubbed) as my bearing block. I wish I could show a picture of my drill kit but my son does not live with us anymore and I really don't know how to get the pictures on the computer, sorry. CG :yo:

Sounds great and I would love to see it. I too do not know how to put the photo's on here. Can anyone tell us please...................Jon
 
I always notch one end like you would for a bow and arrow bow, and flatten off the other end with my knife and chip out a square hole with my knife. I make a bowline or slip knot at the notched end and pass the other end of the cord through the hole at the other. This allows for fine adjustment if the string is too tight/loose. I then whip around (back up the bow) and extra few feet of cord which has a dual purpose of providing a good grip for you to hold onto with your drilling hand and also if your string breaks you have plenty there to re-tie and you're ready to go again.
 
Geez, I don't know what kind of paracord you were using but it could not even have come close to the real thing. Paracord would be nearly impossible to break using a firedrill.

Personally I like those yellow/brown striped shoe laces that come with heavy boots. But you have to get the good laces, not the Asian import knockoffs, which are softer and want to fray. The good laces are tough as nails and grip the spindle well, and take a long time to wear down.

You can just see some of it in this pic:

antlerblocks1b.jpg
 
It was the proper paracord I was using, has the inner strands and bought from a reputable dealer............I think the problem was (after speaking to others on this thread) that my bow was too long and being greenwood, had too much give in it causing the cord to slip and then break................Jon
Love the set you have
 

BCUK Shop

We have a a number of knives, T-Shirts and other items for sale.

SHOP HERE