Tri-lam tiller check (Boo Backing Problems...)

[Dag]

Hey folks,

Just lookin' for some pointers on how to proceed with this bow.  In the video it is at a low brace height of about 4".

Boo/Ipe/Hickory 76" long.  Hoping to end up anywhere over #90@32"

Thanks for checking it out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1YIdwku5_s

[Cameroo]

I can't see a thing wrong with that, looks like it's coming around perfectly.  I've got a similar bow ready to be tillered, just have a few other projects to finish up first.  Looking forward to seeing this one completed!

[Dag]

Thanks for the feedback Cameroo!  Much appreciated.  Good luck on yours!  I have many distracting projects as well, haha.

[Dag]

Well shoot.  A bit of the bamboo backing has cracked and lifted just below the center of the bow.

  How should I handle this guys?  I really would hate to scrap this piece of work because of this.  Is it as simple as supergluing back down and applying pressure?

[WillS]

Glue! It's in the middle, and it's longitudinal.  You don't need to worry, just flood it in superglue and press it down, and carry on as if it never happened!

[Dag]

Sweet! That's what I was hoping to hear! Thanks WillS!

[WillS]

Hang on.  I've just looked again.  It's actually popped a splinter hasn't it, right near the centre line.  If it was just a single longitudinal crack you'd be alright, but I'd wait for somebody more experienced using boo as backing to offer advice! Sorry!

[Dag]

Alright, I'll hang off on the glue.  That splinter runs about three inches long

[toomanyknots]

My experience would be that the backing is a lost cause, for a warbow weight bow anyway. It will most likely pop back up no matter how you patch or glue it. That has been my experience at least. I would cut the backing off, just above the ipe core, and sand back down to the ipe core and glue another backing on it. That always sucks. I recommend very sparingly removing the rind next time, and don't go below a 1/32" of an inch for the backing.

[wood_bandit99]

i thought i would help even though ive never made a warbow. i had stuff pop splinters and what i do is fill it with superglue then i wrap sinew around it and it is soaked in glue. idk if it will work for that weight tho.

[Del the cat]

You can only try it and see.
I was going to suggest the out 1/3 of the limbs could bend a tad more. That would also help take some weight off that grip section.
Bear in mind laminates are not my thang... so I reserve the right to be wrong!
Del

[Dag]

Thanks for all the replies guys.  I think I'll go with Toomanyknots on this one.  This bow has been sitting as a stave for over 2 years now    maybe the boo just dried out a bit too much, idk.

I think a hickory backing would suit this bow well.  A few questions about that, should the hickory be brought to a single growth ring?  That seems like it would be ideal.  Is it possible to use a hick backing that is not down to a single ring?  If so what should the orientation of the grain be in relation to the bow?

[adb]

And that's why I don't use bamboo anymore...

[adb]

Thanks for all the replies guys.  I think I'll go with Toomanyknots on this one.  This bow has been sitting as a stave for over 2 years now    maybe the boo just dried out a bit too much, idk.

I think a hickory backing would suit this bow well.  A few questions about that, should the hickory be brought to a single growth ring?  That seems like it would be ideal.  Is it possible to use a hick backing that is not down to a single ring?  If so what should the orientation of the grain be in relation to the bow?

Here's a 60# hickory backed yew. This is how I orient the grain.

[toomanyknots]

  maybe the boo just dried out a bit too much, idk.

Maybe. In my opinion, (of course it is too late now though), but in the video you can tell it is working a bit too much in the middle, not enough everywhere else:



I would try to leave the middle stiffer (for about 6" - 8" in the center), and work everything else, than later on in tillering you can lightly scrap the middle to bring it around, that is one way. When I have removed the backing and re-glued another one, I cut it off on the bandsaw right above the core, and then use the belt sander to sand the rest down to the core I want, that way you make sure you don't cut too deep and ruin it.