Post mortem/critique please

[DC]

This was my favorite bow up until a couple of days ago. I made a new string and it was too short. The brace height went up to 8+" from the normal 6" and for some dumb reason I pulled on it. Momentary brain dead I guess. Anyway, I want to make another much like it so I thought maybe you guys could look and see if you can see areas that need improvement. It's an Ocean Spray R/D 62" NTN following the curves. 39# at 28". 1 1/2" wide at the fades tapering evenly to 1" about 7" from the tip and then down to 1/2" tips. It broke 11" from the center on the bottom limb. It looks like there is two very very small pins there but I think by that point it had to find a weak spot somewhere. I tried to take some pictures of the break but it doesn't show very well. It's an "H" shaped break right on the crown,1/2" wide and 6" long. I would think it is a very typical tension break. Here's the pictures I have. I can chop it into chunks if it will help.It broke where the red arrow is.

[DC]

And full draw showing where it broke

[Pat B]

It actually looks flat where the red arrow is. How does the back look otherwise?

[DC]

I'm not sure what you're looking for but the bottom limb is very clean, nothing over a 32nd of an inch. There is a typical OS lump halfway between the break and the handle. Can I try to take a pic of something for you?

[sieddy]

That looks like it was a sweet bow man. Oh well I'm sure your next will be even better! 

[Blaflair2]

I thought same as pat

[PEARL DRUMS]

Your brace height increase isn't the culprit, if that helps you rest at all.

[DC]

Heck of a coincidence then.

[Badger]

  A high brace height can change your tiller shape at brace, if the area that broke was starting to bend more at brace it would continue as you drew it. I still wouldn't say the high brace was the culprit but it likley exagerated a slight weak spot you allready had. +

[bow101]

Wood is wood it does what it wants.  You could have a thousand shots thru a bow and one day you go out and shoot it first thing and it breaks.  Breaks happen. Move on to the next project.

[George Tsoukalas]

Looks like there is a knot just above the break.
Did you leave the knot slightly wider and did you tiller that part slightly stiffer?
Jawge

[DC]

Here's a pic between the break and the handle. You can see the OS lump. There is probably a knot inside that. It's a bit wider and about 1/8" thicker. It's 4 1/2" from the break. The break is marked in Sharpie.

[PatM]

Saw the lump in half and see what's in there.

[DC]

There was nothing but wood in there. I think there was a knot in the other half of the stave and this was just a swelling coming around. OS over reacts to knots and injuries and makes these ugly lumps. It makes it nice for us because there is lots of strength around them.

[bentstick54]

I'm with Jawge. It looks like a very small knot right about the break. My guess is the lump between the handle and the break caused a stiff spot that put more stress on the limb where the little knot is and finally caused the break. Just a guess though, as I am still a beginner and have only made 8 or 9 Osage pyramids to date.