Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Christian Soldier on March 07, 2013, 05:47:16 pm
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Tried heat bending some setback into a hickory self bow for the first time. It worked pretty well untill... CRACK! :o
It cracked lengthwise down the handle.
Here's the pics. The crack is almost entirely lengthwise, I figure there's probably someway to fix this with enough TBB and a handle wrap to hide the crack mark.
(http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc495/KenpoFighter1/SSPX0034_zps7189a4e5.jpg)
(http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc495/KenpoFighter1/SSPX0035_zps28560485.jpg)
(http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc495/KenpoFighter1/SSPX0036_zpsb925a067.jpg)
Any guidance is appreciated. Thanks!
Dan
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Dan, you could glue it and add a wrap but you might be better off just starting another bow. Was this from a board? Looks like it broke along a grain line.
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That crack looks like it is stretching out quite a long ways. I'd junk it, and start a new one.
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Nah, its straight from a hickory tree :). Normally I'd scrap it but its almost completely tillered and just some sanding and a little bending away from completion. That is, before this happened.
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Sorry, you're not going to fix that one. It would be a waste of your time trying, and you may hurt yourself thinking it's fixed and having it explode at full draw.
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If that is the handle I woudl say you could easily make it safe again. It is the handle right? Center pretty much?
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i would use an epoxy or hide glue to do it. but it's up to you. good luck and fix the handle put a wrap and finnish. then hang it on the wall and say it's completed ;D ;D ;D ;D SS
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Its the handle, which is basically non bending. It cracked at the fade where the rings change.
I accidently split an osage stave in a similar manner when I was rough shaping it. I pealed up the broken handle part, glued it back on. And its been shooting strong ever since. But that was osage and was twice as wide at the fade (pyramid).
If it in the limb I would have thrown it down in a fit of anger and hit the heavy bag for awhile by now. But its not in a high stress part of the bow, its just cause I was bending it the otheway to add setback. :-\
If I set it down long enough, I'll be able to cope with the loss. But I'd like to review all of my options of reviving it first. :)
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Matches and marshmallow sticks ;).I figure if it's failed to that extent,even if I fix it ,I wouldn't feel comfortable giving it away. A man can only keep so many dodgey bows. I'd hate to be at full draw on a fine fat deer and have it let go again. The amount of time you spend repairing it could likely bring you close to where you're at right now with a new one.Your call ,but sometimes you just have to shoot your horse!
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Just out of the fades might not bend a lot but I'm pretty sure it's under a fair amount of stress. I think I agree with lostarrow on this one. Might be doable but is it worth it in the long run?
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For a start there is not really any fade out going on there. Sure it gets a bit thicker but I would like to bet that it was bending there, even if you don't think it was!
Do not bend wood severely where the rings are cut through....as you now know!
The maximum stress in a bow is into the fades/handle.
Sure you could glue it, clamp it and then wrap but it would look like a mess and be likely to turn into a wood grenade on every draw!
Learn the mistake you made and move on.
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You have a little less fad and smaller handle than I have on most I lay out ,but I have seen them split it that same area several time,one just last week,if it is in the non bending area and on the belly side,you can superglue it and wrap it good as you make your grip and it will probably be ok. If there is a hump in the handle or you try and add to much reflex they will split there almost every time.I clamp the handle and also a clamp on either side at the base of the fads before I try and reflex much, unless they are laying really flat through that area. :) Super glue it,clamp it tight and let it set,then string and pull to full draw[on a tree preferably] ;) :) and if it holds I wouldn't worry about it. :)
Pappy
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Yup. I was thinking good super glue for the crack. Then a TBIII soaked hemp wrap handle. It wont come apart again, it cant. I woulnt give it away. It woudl stay with me. Not because of safety, but becasue I dont give away bows that arent almost "perfect". Thats just my thing.
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I would probabaly grab another stave and have at it. This ones primary role is a leason learned and if you learn from it, it will have done its job. Danny
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Thats not a crack thats a break. Chalk it up to exsperance.
START OVER
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I'm going to peal the crack up and try to glue it back down. If it fits well and looks good, I'll keep working with it, if not, I'll scrap it and start on the next one. :)
I just cut a 10" hickory tree so I've got plenty of staves, they just need to dry first.
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did you get my PM?
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Imagine what could happen if you were at full draw and she blew up on you. ::) Bruises, cuts, shards of wood in the face :o
I would light a fire with the bow, brew a cup of coffee over the fire and get to carving in the next piece of wood. I don't have any experice with breaking bows so take it with a grain of salt. If ya save it best of luck, be careful.
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did you get my PM?
Yeah, I'm not too sure its worth it though. I have half dozen hickory staves that need debarked, shaped, and seasoned. By the time I finish the last one the first one will probably be ready to go.
It can be fixed. But I'm not sure its worth my time when there are so many other trees just anxiously waiting to be turned into bows. :)
Thanks for the offer though man. :)
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did you get my PM?
Yeah, I'm not too sure its worth it though. I have half dozen hickory staves that need debarked, shaped, and seasoned. By the time I finish the last one the first one will probably be ready to go.
It can be fixed. But I'm not sure its worth my time when there are so many other trees just anxiously waiting to be turned into bows. :)
Thanks for the offer though man. :)
welcome :laugh: BD
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Eh, glue it back down, then rasp it flat, toss on a handle riser, call it done. Why hasnt anybody mentioned a riser yet? Or a take down?
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Eh, glue it back down, then rasp it flat, toss on a handle riser, call it done. Why hasnt anybody mentioned a riser yet? Or a take down?
+1. SS
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That one is done. Jawge
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I am generally a proponent of "fixing" a fixable bow. This one looks to be on life support with little chance of making a recovery IMO. Put your time into starting another.
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When I saw your thread I expected to see either a drying check lengthwise or a tension crack crosswise on the belly.I've gotta go woth cooketarrow on this one....That's not a crack .It's a break.Like was said just grab another stave.Remember it's just a piece of wood.
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Well you mistaked by using dry heat the only wood you wanna bend with dry heat Is Osage on hickory you need to steam it and it works really well I dont dry heat at all even on Osage because steam works much better