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Black Locust fix?
Bearded.Jake:
Hello all,
This is my first post on the site, and I was hoping my first would be something better but here goes. I had high hopes for a black locust stave I was working on, hoping it would be my first adequate hunting bow. I ended up cutting the stave on the short side at 58" because I had the notion that shorter was better. The design Ive ended up with is not the easiest task for someone like me.. 58" long, about 1 11/16" wide for most of the limb, and hollowed out belly to try and mirror the back (just with scraper). Planned for a slightly bendy handle, and wanted to sinew back it if all went well.
Since the bow was on the short side, I wanted to reflex the tips for a smoother draw or less stack. I have a tendency to make poor decisions from being impatient and when I decided to finally try bending the tips, I went with dry heat. I rushed it and cracked it!
It wasn't horrible, and i thought, if it could be salvaged, I still want the other end to match, so I went ahead and steamed the other end but rushed that one also!!
So I have two cracked reflexed tips and I am wondering if they can be fixed by wrapping with sinew or rawhide, or laminating something over top. I had the idea that antler laminated just at the tips could look cool. Is that worth trying or am I just going to have to make a much shorter bow?
I tried getting a piece of antler shaped right already and it would be a challenge to get it right for a good bond.
One crack is fairly mild and the other is more prominent, running about 1/4 of the way into the thickness of the tip and about 1" lengthwise.
Any advice is much appreciated!
Hamish:
Its hard to tell without pictures, but you should grab a new stave, unless you are into masochism.
Bearded.Jake:
--- Quote from: Hamish on March 26, 2024, 05:18:28 pm ---Its hard to tell without pictures, but you should grab a new stave, unless you are into masochism.
--- End quote ---
ah ya, I would like too soon.. but I hoped to make a bow I could hunt with this coming season. oh well.
I just need to get lucky to cross paths with some more Black Locust too, I do love the look.
I have one juniper stave that could work out.
Here are a couple pictures, one of each end.
Bearded.Jake:
another of the worse crack.. And profile of the bow. it would have been nicer to see more of the bow in these photos but I had to crop them to upload them.
bjrogg:
Welcome to primitive archery site bearded jake.
Your tips still look quite thick yet. It looks like cracks are on belly side of curve. This is pretty common problem. It helps if you chase a ring on belly side where you are bending your curve. Also using a thin metal backer between clamps and belly.
The cracks might not be the death of your bow. You should be in a none bending compression area.
Fill with thin super glue from each direction.
Maybe you can get rid of most of it when you reduce your tips.
I think your bigger problem is probably how short you cut your stave.
You are asking a lot for that length and a stiff to almost bending handle.
Not saying it can’t be done but it’s more of a challenge.
What draw length are you trying for?
If you don’t need a longer draw that helps.
Bjrogg
PS I wouldn’t throw it out. If nothing else you can use it to practice with
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