I once, just once, tried to make a bow with ornamental arborvitae... that tall shrub that folks grow in their yards. Hey, it smelled like cedar, what did I know? I had it fully tillered, it was 45# @ 28". I left it in the drying box for a few days and then strung it to go to the bales to begin shooting it in. It felt light as a feather. I drew it once in the shop after I strung it and BANG at full draw. It sounded like a shotgun going off. All that was left was about 14" of the handle section in my bow hand, the string was laying over my shoulder with a small piece of the limb tip hanging behind my back by the upper string loop,, and the rest was scattered like shrapnel across my shop. I never did find all the pieces. I was not injured.
I also once overdried the most beautiful yew bow I'd ever made, and the bottom limb expoded as I tried to string it with the push pull method. Again, no injuries. That one bothered me.... still does. To this day, was one of my best. Valuable lessons learned the hard way.
The only other bow I had break was a character osage bow with a knothole in the top limb. It was shot in, done. A buddy drew it fast one early winter morning in single digit temperature, and she said 'tick'... firewood. Cracked at the knot.
