Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: mullet on October 15, 2007, 07:23:58 pm
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It was interesting to see all the possible reasons the oak bow broke in the other post.So I thought we could try it again.This is the bow I made for my Grandson I posted back in July.It's made from an oak board from Home Depot.But it's silk backed.By the way ,the grandson wasn't strong enough to pull it very far.
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It might help to see edge grain, by the looks of it, I have no idea.
Sean
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Gonna be curious to see this one myself....looks just like the one that slapped my nephews dad upside the nose this summer. Similar break, backed with two layers of drywall tape. Could the silk backing in this case (or the drywall tape in my case) have something to do with it????
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That bow looks like it broke across the back possibly because of it was too dry or a flaw in the wood like fungi. If the bow bent too much in that area that could cause it also. Sometimes wood bows break just because! ??? Pat
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Are you saying that sometimes wood just doesnt want to be a bow???
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I think a gouge across the limb could also be a possibility causing a hinge. But I'm gonna go with a bad spot in wood due to fungus, rot, insects whatever due to the fact its such a localized break.
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Stiknstring, Sometimes they break for no apparent reason...but not very often. Pat
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this is kinda like CSI,I'm curious at the guesses.When the responce slows down I'll tell everybody how it happened. I can guarantee there will be quite a few that knows.
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Too much grain run off. Look at the belly. The lines should be straight. tip to tip. jawge
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I agree with Jawge, the break is right at the run off point.
Hey Jawge didn't you used to say something about the wood having a bow in it when you got a successful bow. I remember something like that from a few years ago when you were helping me out with board bows.
VB
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Yep,Jawge and VB are right.And I learned that from Jawges' site.That was the first board bow I made.I thought the run off would be okay since the yung'n was only 6 and couldn't pull the 20#'er back to 16 ".Well,on his 6 birthday,and this is the part I was talking about a few of you have seen.The other Grandpa,after a few beers,said, "this is a cool bow",as I said,"NOOOO",Pow! It broke at around 26".This bow was only about 46".If nothing else,If you are using a questionable board at least back it with something.It helped this bow take some nasty abuse.
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I'd say it was too dry.
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VB, I think I did say that. I tend to take incredible chances with marginal log staves. I'm really picky with boards though. LOL. mullet, I'm glad your grandchild was not drawing that bow when it broke. Jawge
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Id have to say it was the grain, and boards from the depot, well its almost impossible to find a board of bow quality. Ive made several from boards,broke a few,had some good ones too. just recently bought rudderbows new dvd how to make a bow,it deals with boards only, explains what kinda grain to look for in a board,and how to from start to finish. Pretty good over all,they dont show how to make a tillering stick, but show how to use it well.I copied theirs cause I liked it better than the one I had. Auggie.
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I just followed Georges directions on his site to select a board and have only had problems with those that I decided to try AGAINST my better judgement. Sometimes you just have to find out how far you can push some wood with a particular backing in the name of science.
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Man - that's a shame. I was gonna say too dry but now looking back at the pic's I can see that the grain runs off right there. Store that in my memory banks.
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Eddy:
You seem to know why the bow broke and want to see if we can figure it out.
Did your grandson try to string it backwoard?? Just a guess from looking at the photo.
David
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Hi,
Looks to me like the wood was too dry. I've had similar looking breaks from very dry wood. Complete x fracture at point of high stress. Last piece that broke like that for me was jatoba.
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Grain runoff on belly like others have said Eddie......bob
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David,The grain runoff is why it broke.But the main reason is it was a kids bow and a full grown man pulled it back too far.
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Eddy:
Sorry, I had not read all of the post before I replied. My Bad Eddy.
The reason I thought that the bow might have been strung backwards is this.
A few weeks back I finished a bow for a 19 year old young man.
He has never shot a bow and knows nothing about them.
I strung the bow up for him and gave him a few shooting lessions.
After a while we stopped. I unstrung the bow and we set down outside and were shooting the breeze when I had to run into the house for a few minutes. When I came out he was attempting to string the bow. Backwards. I yelled STOP. Thankfully, he did and no harm was done.
I then realised that this young man was going to need a lot more lessons about bows.
He is a fine young man that has matured above his raising. I will continue to give him lessons.
David
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I think selfbows are like people in many ways...varying personalities. Some bows due to flaws in their character either natural or learned, can't emotionally handle the stress of all the weight they're being asked to control, so they commit...bow suicide, forever ending the everyday stesses associated with being a bow. ;D ;D ;D
I'm sorry, felt like dishing out a little silliness for a change. ;)
I agree with the grain running off comments. ;)
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Hah,Hah, Hah,I love it Greg.It was a shame,because the bow shot real good for a little kid.