Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Burnsie on November 23, 2025, 11:18:28 pm
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The curve/swoop in this handle was making tillering almost impossible, it created a big hump right out of the fade. I decided to do some surgery. It's pretty straight now, we'll see if it turns into a bow.
Finished this one up. It has a a decent amount of squiggle - 38# @ 28" was the best I could get out of it after I did the straightening - (pics below)
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That... is interesting. I an very curious how it will turn out. I haven't seen that approach before. Points for uniqueness.
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Nice job, I see no reason that won't work as long as you keep it from bending in the handle. Nice approach. :)
Pappy
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I did the same with a half moon cut out. It worked well. You can also take propeller out that way also.
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Arvin's patch leaves a lot of non bending wood below the patch to keep the handle section stable.
I would be surprised if your patch doesn't turn loose, you removed a LOT of the strength of the handle, I hope I am wrong. Even non bending handles stress and bend some even if it is a small amount. I have tried patches in the limbs, the patches would hold up for a couple of years and then turn lose.
I glued patches into this this handle just of see if I could get away with it because the rest of the stave was really good osage, I bamboo backed the bow to add a another layer of stability to the handle. I sold the bow cheaply, 15 years later it surfaced in an archery shop in Chattanooga, still in shootable condition
I started with this;
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The guy who found the bow in Chattanooga bought it, I letter all of my bows so he tracked my name down and asked me about the bow. I keep a log book on the bows that I have made but the glue line in the handle was a dead give away on this one. URAC 185 was the most amazing glue I ever used, I used it in this bow fix.
The bow as found in Chattanooga;
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Don’t see why it won’t work fine. I’ve seen it down as a way to deflect handles on hard to bend woods or want a sharper bend that can be done with just heat.
Kyle
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That surgery will be fine. That part of the handle is in compression.
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Yup I’d say that should work fine too. Very cool approach to solving a potential problem. I had some help from Eric on a similar fix. I don’t have any pics of it handy but it worked well. Man I gotta get my new shop organized and get back at it. The move out west still has all my stuff packed away!
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Finished this one up. It has a a decent amount of squiggle - 38# @ 28" was the best I could get out of it after I did the straightening.
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Nice work Burnsie
Nice bow
Bjrogg
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Very nice outcome to your project. Very nice bow. :OK
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Well done, looks like you fix held up just fine. :)
Pappy
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Thanks guys!
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Looking at these "fixes" and "improvised solutions" inspire me to try many techniques with the all the miscellaneous hickory wood, imperfect short staves and boards laying about my abode.
This bow seems to be sweet shooter.