Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Woodbear on July 21, 2019, 01:10:57 am
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This thread is to ask for your thoughts about restoring a bow was left out in the field braced and leaning against a fence for about a year. The bow is solid Ipe. The finish is quite weathered and crumbling but most of it is still there. The original set was only about 0.75”, but now stands at 3.75”…..
I can lightly sand and re-finish the bow. The question is if it is possible to remove the set? Dry heat might be able to bend the arms back to the original shape but I am not sure if this would restore the wood or further compromise the wood.
Thoughts on the subject are welcome.
Dave
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I'd back it, after heating and straightening.
that would also give you a chance to take off the weathered and compressed/stretched outer surfaces.
Del
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Dry heat will more likely ruin the bow
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I think leaning it leaning against a fence for a year ruined it. Also, trying to adjust ipe with heat can be a problem.
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I am just thinking out loud,, I have no experience with a bow like you have,,
but,, trying to make it like new might ruin it as stated,,
so,, what I would do is see if it can be drawn without breaking,,it you can draw the bow with out explosion,,
then I would re finish and leave as is,, shooting it for what it is,, :NN
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You may be able to introduce some reflex in areas that do not bend like the tips and handle areas.
I would not spend much time on it though.
Jawge
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Put a backing material on the belly, and redo the bow. Make the belly the back and use the set as reflex.
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I didnt think of that,, )-w(
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Hi Dave
have you considered a solution to reversing the long term accumulation of set (creep?), by subjecting the bow to a year of some sort of "reverse" strain?
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I second Sleeks idea. Interesting experiment anyways.
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No once wood has been compressed reversing it so the belly felt tension would cause it to break very quickly.
Adding a backing and removing belly wood would be the way I would go if I had to.
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Thanks for the replies.
The bow has sentimental value, being my oldest that is still in one piece.
My thought is now that I will clean up the bow and see if it can still safely make full draw (25”), and if so, what the weight is.
From the replies, heat bending seems like a poor idea, so I will contemplate what if anything can be done later if it still makes full draw.
It seems rather unlikely, but if anyone has actually successfully reversed set in a finished bow please do post the suggestion.
Dave
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It seems rather unlikely, but if anyone has actually successfully reversed set in a finished bow please do post the suggestion.
Dave
I have... and I did... it was the first answer you received ::)
Ok, it was Hickory not Ipe.
https://bowyersdiary.blogspot.com/2013/03/big-bow-detail-and-hickory-challenge.html (https://bowyersdiary.blogspot.com/2013/03/big-bow-detail-and-hickory-challenge.html)
https://bowyersdiary.blogspot.com/2013/03/hickory-challenge-result.html (https://bowyersdiary.blogspot.com/2013/03/hickory-challenge-result.html)
I even allowed you an added safety margin by suggesting backing it...
In your original post, you didn't mention it was of sentimental value.
There are two real options... if you don't want want to take any risk... clean it and hang it on the wall.
On the other hand if you want to be able to shoot it, it's a no lose experiment, 'cos you've got to do something.
Del
PS. If you ask me a 3rd time.... the answer will still be the same ::) :o ;D >:D
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You said it was Ipe right? Ipe is incredibly rot resistant and nearly waterproof, it being a tropical wood. If it hasn't been chewed on much by the local bugs then (if it were me) I'd try to back it with something like bamboo, pulling some perry reflex into it and then try to retiller it. Ipe won't respond to heat, at least it has never moved for me with heat maybe someone else has some ideas there.
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I gotta ask :D. If it has sentimental value how did it wind up leaning against a fence post for a year? You don't have to answer ;D
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It seems rather unlikely, but if anyone has actually successfully reversed set in a finished bow please do post the suggestion.
Dave
I have... and I did... it was the first answer you received ::)
Ok, it was Hickory not Ipe.
https://bowyersdiary.blogspot.com/2013/03/big-bow-detail-and-hickory-challenge.html (https://bowyersdiary.blogspot.com/2013/03/big-bow-detail-and-hickory-challenge.html)
https://bowyersdiary.blogspot.com/2013/03/hickory-challenge-result.html (https://bowyersdiary.blogspot.com/2013/03/hickory-challenge-result.html)
I even allowed you an added safety margin by suggesting backing it...
In your original post, you didn't mention it was of sentimental value.
There are two real options... if you don't want want to take any risk... clean it and hang it on the wall.
On the other hand if you want to be able to shoot it, it's a no lose experiment, 'cos you've got to do something.
Del
PS. If you ask me a 3rd time.... the answer will still be the same ::) :o ;D >:D
I looked at the posts on Del's blog to try to determine if the set in the hickory bow was caused from being over drawn or left strung for an extended period. Perhaps Del never had a chance to find out what caused the set that he repaired.
(nice job on that bow BTW, Del). :)
For the sake of discussion, lets assume over drawing creates 'set', and an extended stringing causes 'creep', both similar in appearance. But are they the same? We commonly assume set is the result of compression damaged cells, but creep may be the rearrangement of cells in relation to each other. Certainly heat can firm up cells that are not dried to their full extent, but we also like to presume that heat allows us to rearrange cells when we use it to straighten or bend.
Could this be more similar to the long term damage that Dave has experienced?
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Ahh, ….. how did it get left in the field. … Twas a friend who I let use the bow who forgot where he left it, and forgot to let me know it was missing. I discovered the “missing” part the next week, only just now found the bow about a year later while walking the fence line.
So…… there is good news and bad news. The good news is that it is no longer missing and remarkably little weather damage, considering a year in the rain and sun. The bad news is massive set. ....... Being able to restore the bow will significantly help my mental attitude to be gracious about the incident.
Regarding set from over draw, vs creep from long brace time (not to mention hot-cold rain & dry), I am not sure there is much difference. Hypothetically, set from overdraw is thought to occur when the strain on the belly exceeds the elastic limit and the portion that exceeds the limit is permanently compressed. However, the matter of exceeding the elastic limit must also be time dependent, because after a year, the shape is permanently changed in spite of not reaching the strain of either full draw or over draw.
Del,
Thanks for saving me asking a third time, I have your answer……Nice restoration on your long bow. It is good to know it can be done with hickory. The feedback on heat with Ipe is negative, so I am considering backing while held in mild reflex. Not sure how thick a backing & how much “reflex” it would take to pull it straight again. I don’t have any Ipe I want to sacrifice for backing. I have a hickory board 1” thick "flat sawn" with grain feathering out on the face about every 8-12 inches. How good does the grain on hickory have to be to back Ipe?
Dave
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You'll likely get other answers but - pretty good would be my answer. I've had backing fail on narrow, strained bows. Somebody on here is bound to have some decent hickory for you.
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I wouldn't risk pulling any reflex, or maybe just 1/4" - 1/2" max. Gluing on the backing should pull it straight.
If you must pull it into reflex, I'd have thought steam wouldn't do any harm and may help...?
Problem with getting greedy is...
https://bowyersdiary.blogspot.com/2019/04/tired-old-warbow-experiment.html (https://bowyersdiary.blogspot.com/2019/04/tired-old-warbow-experiment.html)
It took out the set, stiffened it up wonderfully... until :-
https://bowyersdiary.blogspot.com/2019/04/tired-warbow-result-etc.html (https://bowyersdiary.blogspot.com/2019/04/tired-warbow-result-etc.html)
Del ;D ::)
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I have repaired a lot of bows, some with monster set but never worked with ipe but have fixed a hickory bow that was never unstrung and had 8" of set. Reflexing on a caul and heavy toasting of the belly cured it. Because of my lack of experience with ipe I will have to watch and learn and see how this goes.