Author Topic: Don't Let Idiots String Bows  (Read 7954 times)

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Offline Del the cat

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Don't Let Idiots String Bows
« on: July 30, 2015, 06:01:14 am »
Another sorry tale. a lady who owns a gorgeous 35# Reflexed boo backed Yew longbow which I made sent me pics of it with one limb smashed.
Someone "helped her" by stringing it... unfortunately he didn't understand the reflex and tried to string it backwards >:( :o ::).
She was really upset... I am too as it was the fastest bow of that weight/style I'd made.
It's beyond  repair, but I said I'd see what I could do in terms of pushing the boundaries of repair just as a learning exercise but with no expectation of sucess.
Makes you despair don't it?
Del
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Offline Hrothgar

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Re: Don't Let Idiots String Bows
« Reply #1 on: July 30, 2015, 07:08:23 am »
So sorry to see that Del. Makes us all a bit sick.
" To be, or not to be"...decisions, decisions, decisions.

Offline half eye

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Re: Don't Let Idiots String Bows
« Reply #2 on: July 30, 2015, 07:42:33 am »
Perhaps you could finish the break, drive nails through both broken ends, whip tie off the frayed wood.......and then commence to beat that son-of-a-bitch right to death with it  >:D 8) ::)

I will try to control myself in the future.
rich

Offline Del the cat

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Re: Don't Let Idiots String Bows
« Reply #3 on: July 30, 2015, 07:45:24 am »
Good call Rich.
What also irritates me is I always give out a "Care of Self Bows" sheet.
Here's the first line from it:-

The biggest danger to a self wood bow is other people!
Nuf' said!
Del
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Offline Marc St Louis

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Re: Don't Let Idiots String Bows
« Reply #4 on: July 30, 2015, 08:15:24 am »
Good call Rich.
What also irritates me is I always give out a "Care of Self Bows" sheet.
Here's the first line from it:-

The biggest danger to a self wood bow is other people!
Nuf' said!
Del

That is too bad Del, been there done that.  I always give one of those out as well, many don't even bother to read it
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blackhawk

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Re: Don't Let Idiots String Bows
« Reply #5 on: July 30, 2015, 08:44:47 am »
Pardon me while i go throw up...  :-\ ....that sucks. Im not the kind of person to bash the guy,call him names,and demand tying him to the whipping post tho,cus we all make dumb mistakes and are no better than anyone else in my book. $#+@ happens unfortunately. ...id look at it as a learning lesson for the owner and the guy who broke it.

Offline Pat B

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Re: Don't Let Idiots String Bows
« Reply #6 on: July 30, 2015, 08:50:05 am »
I had that happen once and the guy swore he didn't bend the bow backwards. It was very obvious he had.
 Its a shame!  >:(
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline OTDEAN

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Re: Don't Let Idiots String Bows
« Reply #7 on: July 30, 2015, 09:30:44 am »
Bows are like kids, you spend forever investing patience and time into them in the hope that one day they will treated right and appreciated by others.  Clearly this bow was a red headed step child that was abused from an early age.

Offline Eric Krewson

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Re: Don't Let Idiots String Bows
« Reply #8 on: July 30, 2015, 09:41:46 am »
I double nock  the top limb, widen the lower nock and give the new owner a simple stringer, this makes it so anyone can string their bow easily.




Offline Del the cat

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Re: Don't Let Idiots String Bows
« Reply #9 on: July 30, 2015, 01:03:01 pm »
I double nock  the top limb, widen the lower nock and give the new owner a simple stringer, this makes it so anyone can string their bow easily.
Yup.. it had double nock grooves... the bloke obviously didn't even look... just grabbed it and heaved  >:(
I imagine it went like this...
"Here, I'll do that for you ... crack...."
Del
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Offline Pat B

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Re: Don't Let Idiots String Bows
« Reply #10 on: July 30, 2015, 01:04:40 pm »
I hope he offered to pay for the bow he broke.
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline huisme

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Re: Don't Let Idiots String Bows
« Reply #11 on: July 30, 2015, 01:16:39 pm »
Wow, I should add this to the owner's manual, didn't even think about people trying to string the bow backwards. "String the bow toward the side with the signature, the direction the tips point at rest is the opposite direction you draw the bow."

I've had my fare share of overdraws, only one ending in catastrophe. It's just really important that people understand their bow is their bow.
50#@26"
Black locust. Black locust everywhere.
Mollegabets all day long.
Might as well make them short, save some wood to keep warm.

Offline Del the cat

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Re: Don't Let Idiots String Bows
« Reply #12 on: July 30, 2015, 01:52:57 pm »
I hope he offered to pay for the bow he broke.
Yes he's offered to pay any repair/replacement cost.
Mind who's to say I can make another like that? Or if if I even want to?
35# reflexed Boo Yew isn't something I'm that keen to do at the moment.
Del
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Offline Oakenshield

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Re: Don't Let Idiots String Bows
« Reply #13 on: July 30, 2015, 02:21:39 pm »
Wow i that made me cringe, all that work, just so someone else could learn a lesson. Lets hope he doesn't destroy any more bows in the future. I would have been heartbroken.
College Student, Fly Fisherman, New Bowyer, and proud Army Veteran.

A-Troop, 1/75 Cavalry, 2nd Brigade, 101 Airbourne

Offline DesertDisciple

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Re: Don't Let Idiots String Bows
« Reply #14 on: July 30, 2015, 03:15:10 pm »
Ouch! I hurt for you.  :(
a couple years ago the local antique store came under new ownership and I checked it out. He had a couple of glass recurves and I asked if I could string one. He offered to do it for me and proceeded to string it backwards. I did my best to politely inform him that he'd done that wrong and his response was ' this is ABSOLUTELY the right way to string this!' I walked out an vowed never to return. Well, a few months ago I was visiting that town (I've since moved) and forgot about my promise and walked in. I found an otherwise beautiful yew ELB with horn nocks that was being used as a curtain rod for a tapestry that must have weighed 20 lbs. Poor thing must have hung there for over a year under the strain. I'll never go back.

I can't help but get upset when I see such ignorance combined with such machismo! ASK SOMEONE WHO KNOWS SOMETHING BEFORE YOU GO A BENDING THINGS!  >:(

Very sorry to see. I pray you can resurrect it.
Best Regards,

Andrew