Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Pat B on July 19, 2009, 02:59:08 pm

Title: I spoke too soon!!!
Post by: Pat B on July 19, 2009, 02:59:08 pm
Well, I jinxed myself by saying I have broken very few bows in another post. Friday evening I decided to string this bow and pull it a few times as I do sometimes just to stay is shooting shape. Like a fool I didn't exercise the bow a bit before full draw and I pulled it just beyond my normal draw length(10/10th broken  ::) ). Here is the result of my improper handling! :(  :'(
  The bow did give way at a knot on the back on both the top and bottom limb. It all went in one big boom! The wood for this bow(osage) is very thin grain with a few knots so I opted to add a rawhide backing then the tiger stripped tissue paper decoration.


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Title: Re: I spoke too soon!!!
Post by: Kegan on July 19, 2009, 03:02:20 pm
What a shame :-[! I remember that bow, it was one of my favorites.

But now a little bit of it can be in other bows as overlays and what not?
Title: Re: I spoke too soon!!!
Post by: Pat B on July 19, 2009, 03:06:54 pm
I should practice what I preach!  ::)  Yea, this was my hunting bow for this year. I'll have to try to make another before the season. I have other bows to hunt with but not one of my selfbows.
  I will reuse the string but the rest will remain as it is... as a reminder! ;)
Title: Re: I spoke too soon!!!
Post by: mullet on July 19, 2009, 03:11:28 pm
Whoaa! When it decided to let go it sure did it in Style! It always makes you wish you had a "Do Over".
Title: Re: I spoke too soon!!!
Post by: Pat B on July 19, 2009, 03:14:06 pm
Late night, artificial stimulus and wood bows don't mix!   ::)   If I had a do-over I'd probably do over the same! ;D     
Title: Re: I spoke too soon!!!
Post by: Dano on July 19, 2009, 03:19:59 pm
Dang it Pat!!! ::) "artificial stimulus and wood bows don't mix!" That's my line.  ;D
Title: Re: I spoke too soon!!!
Post by: adb on July 19, 2009, 04:23:25 pm
Damn! That really let go. Bummer.
Title: Re: I spoke too soon!!!
Post by: AKAPK on July 19, 2009, 05:07:38 pm
Gewiz, that was a nice bow.Peace
Title: Re: I spoke too soon!!!
Post by: woodstick on July 19, 2009, 05:51:58 pm
if ya didnt have a few in ya it may have been a little worse. so dont change a thing. it happens. sad but true. that just gives you a little motivation to make another fine bow. sorry to see it.
Title: Re: I spoke too soon!!!
Post by: Pat B on July 19, 2009, 06:50:32 pm
Phil, this is the bow I was talking about for the trade. ;D
if ya ain't breakin' em, ya ain't makin' em. ;D
   ...and yes, it was a very exciting explosion!!!   Wife was asleep, I was in the living room and only received a 1/4" scratch in my side. It did wake and scare the heck out of our choc lab!!! :o
Title: Re: I spoke too soon!!!
Post by: mullet on July 19, 2009, 06:58:21 pm
 I've never seen an osage blow like that. It looks like it was really dry.
Title: Re: I spoke too soon!!!
Post by: Michael C. on July 19, 2009, 07:00:10 pm
Maybe you can make a Mowgli out of it  ;D
Title: Re: I spoke too soon!!!
Post by: tom sawyer on July 19, 2009, 07:30:09 pm
I broke the bow I was working on at MOJAM, a little 56" bendy handled design.  I had two people approach me about buying it as a blank.  I wanted something to work on so passed.  Then I got in a hurry and tried to string it before it was ready.  Made a very nice loud sound, got everyone's attentino who was in the pavillion.
Title: Re: I spoke too soon!!!
Post by: Woodland Roamer on July 19, 2009, 08:03:59 pm
Wow! What an explosion, glad you're ok Pat.

Alan
Title: Re: I spoke too soon!!!
Post by: cracker on July 19, 2009, 08:33:36 pm
Hate to hear that Pat it was a great looking bow.Ron :'(
Title: Re: I spoke too soon!!!
Post by: Hillbilly on July 19, 2009, 09:53:44 pm
That sucks, Pat-I''ve shot that bow and it was a sweet one. Better now than at full draw on a nice buck, though.
Title: Re: I spoke too soon!!!
Post by: ricktrojanowski on July 19, 2009, 09:59:02 pm
Pat
That's too bad, that was a nice looking bow.  Hopefully you came away unscathed.
Title: Re: I spoke too soon!!!
Post by: tombo on July 19, 2009, 10:03:11 pm
 Glad you're OK! ...and didn't wake the wifey. Just wood;  make more!  Tom
Title: Re: I spoke too soon!!!
Post by: Jesse on July 19, 2009, 11:15:38 pm
Nice one!!!!!!!  :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o
I guess it wanted to go out with a big bang. I remember the tiller on that bow looked great too. And backed with rawhide. Hmmmm strange ???
Title: Re: I spoke too soon!!!
Post by: Pat B on July 19, 2009, 11:38:58 pm
It wasn't the bow's fault. I blame it on the last 1/10th!  ;D  or the nut behind the string! ;D
   Eddie, Dry?  here in the southeast? She's has been hanging where all the bows I'm shooting at the time hang.
   This bow was a sweet shooter. It laid flat when unbraced after shooting and pulled into about 1" of reflex after a while. The first osage I toasted the belly on. It was slinging 650gr cane and tapered ash arrows with authority..but I pulled it too far. :'(  You'd think after 20 years I'd know better.
   I was surprised how it blew. I had an ERC blow like that but never expected that from an osage. Learned something new.  ;D
Title: Re: I spoke too soon!!!
Post by: Pappy on July 20, 2009, 06:31:56 am
I hate that Pat but it happens to all of us.I don't mind it to bad when it happens to me ,I hate it worse when I give one to someone and it dose that.I gave one to Joe at the Classic that I had hunted with for 2 years and killed deer and shot a thousand times at least and it broke before he got out of the hollow. :-[Made me feel awful.Glad you wasn't hurt. ;) :)
   Pappy
Title: Re: I spoke too soon!!!
Post by: GregB on July 20, 2009, 08:29:00 am
Sorry you loss such a nice bow Pat...but as you know it happens sometimes. Like Hillbilly said, at least you were'nt drawed back on bullwinkle when it went. :)
Title: Re: I spoke too soon!!!
Post by: Michael C. on July 20, 2009, 09:24:58 am
Do people often get injured from stuff like this? I mean I guess I understand that the wood flies back at you, but how bad is it? Just curious as to what to watch out for if one pops on me at draw, other than to wince. I have only had them do that when I have them on the tree.
Title: Re: I spoke too soon!!!
Post by: George Tsoukalas on July 20, 2009, 11:11:18 am
If you ain't breakin' you ain't makin'! I was getting, "Jawge, you shouldn't say stuff like that. It's bad for the beginners." LOL. Now I got you guys saying that too. Pat, it was just time for the bow to go. I almost never exercise a selfie before shooting. I don't think the deer would wait around while I did. Glad you are ok. :) Jawge
Title: Re: I spoke too soon!!!
Post by: radius on July 20, 2009, 11:19:22 am
Do people often get injured from stuff like this? I mean I guess I understand that the wood flies back at you, but how bad is it? Just curious as to what to watch out for if one pops on me at draw, other than to wince. I have only had them do that when I have them on the tree.

if it breaks at the handle, you can get a cut.  I've never been hit, but i've had dents in the ceiling where the thing snapped and the top limb flew!
Title: Re: I spoke too soon!!!
Post by: smokeu on July 20, 2009, 11:39:00 am
BUMMER!!
Title: Re: I spoke too soon!!!
Post by: Pat B on July 20, 2009, 11:48:59 am
This is a good reason to use a tiller tree while tillering a bow, when it is most likely to blow. That way the shrapnel is 6' away when it goes. 
   This bow has been shoot hundreds of times and by quite a few different shooters(I'm always pushing the limits of my bows). With wood bows you never know! Like George said, "it was just time for this bow to go".
Michael, folks do occasionally get hurt when a bow blows. I have heard of folks having to pull limb pieces out of ceilings, etc. It is something to think about but not worry about. You could be run over just crossing the street but it generally doesn't happen. ;)
Title: Re: I spoke too soon!!!
Post by: DanaM on July 20, 2009, 11:53:27 am
I think this falls under the Sh*! Happens category eh
Title: Re: I spoke too soon!!!
Post by: Pat B on July 20, 2009, 12:05:29 pm
you betcha!!!  ;)
Title: Re: I spoke too soon!!!
Post by: JackCrafty on July 20, 2009, 01:31:23 pm
Nice!

Here's my scoring:

Number of pieces: 9.2 (very nice considering the wood was osage)
Injury index: 8.6 (high marks for sentimental value...would have been a perfect score if there was material damage or if it left a scar)
Element of surprise: 10.0 (perfect score)

Average score: 9.3

 ;D
Title: Re: I spoke too soon!!!
Post by: Pat B on July 20, 2009, 01:45:20 pm
 ;D   That makes me feel better, Patrick! ;)
Title: Re: I spoke too soon!!!
Post by: Okie on July 20, 2009, 01:54:44 pm
Dang Pat, Glad you're OK. Sorry 'bout the bow.

I think, in a way, this is an encouragement for the beginners... If it happens to someone like Pat, it can happen to anybody.
Title: Re: I spoke too soon!!!
Post by: John K on July 20, 2009, 01:55:45 pm
Sorry for the loss there Pat ! I keep the ones i break up on the TV in the shop.....just a little reminder that this can happen  ;)
Title: Re: I spoke too soon!!!
Post by: dragonman on July 20, 2009, 05:24:08 pm
please accept my heartfelt condolences >:(
Title: Re: I spoke too soon!!!
Post by: bigcountry on July 21, 2009, 12:58:09 pm
I am shocked it blew up like that with rawhide.  Was it thick or thin rawhide?  I guess I was under the impression rawhide would keep one from exploding but not from failing.
Title: Re: I spoke too soon!!!
Post by: Pat B on July 21, 2009, 08:26:43 pm
Imagine if it didn't have the rawhide backing! :o  Rawhide won't keep it from breaking but it will lessen the possibility and also the explosion. ;D
  This was deer rawhide. Thin but strong.
Title: Re: I spoke too soon!!!
Post by: bigcountry on July 22, 2009, 12:31:29 pm
Imagine if it didn't have the rawhide backing! :o  Rawhide won't keep it from breaking but it will lessen the possibility and also the explosion. ;D
  This was deer rawhide. Thin but strong.

Well, sorry to hear it, but can't wait to see its replacement in the next few months.
Title: Re: I spoke too soon!!!
Post by: Dustybaer on July 22, 2009, 01:19:47 pm
pat, i'm really sorry about that bow.  i did like it a lot.

i just finished a hickory bow, i'd be happy to send you. it's 59" ntn and came in at 48#@25" so at your draw length it might reach hunting weight.

just let me know.
Title: Re: I spoke too soon!!!
Post by: Pat B on July 23, 2009, 12:29:12 am
Marius, I appreciate the offer but as you can imagine, I have other bows to hunt with. ::)  I may even make one before hunting season. Glad to see you posting again. We have missed you. Hope life has smoothed out for you.

Title: Re: I spoke too soon!!!
Post by: Dustybaer on July 23, 2009, 10:30:15 am
not yet pat, but it's getting there.  my apologies to all for my extended absence.

anyway, the offer stands.  and yes, i know you have a ton of bows.  there was a time, when you were posting a new one every day (well, almost every day)  ;D
Title: Re: I spoke too soon!!!
Post by: PeteC on August 03, 2009, 10:37:19 pm
Dang Pat,it did give up did'nt it. Unfortunately,I've had 2 that broke very similar to yours,(both limbs at the same time),but, one was ERC,the other American Elm.It'll sure draw attention though. ;D  God Bless
Title: Re: I spoke too soon!!!
Post by: Little John on August 05, 2009, 08:50:31 pm
Man oh man Pat. I would still have shell shock, stuff like that used not to bother me but now sometimes the phone makes me jump, I can only imagine this explosion. I have not had any break in a while, just come in under weight. Glad you are ok and can laugh about it, and gllad also that you have others to shoot and hunt with. Hope you get a good one as you deserve it. Well if we wanted perfect durability we would back with glass.    Kenneth
Title: Re: I spoke too soon!!!
Post by: Pat B on August 05, 2009, 11:01:17 pm
Pete, this one is just a memory now. I have others to shoot but I really need to build a new one...just for the healing. ;)