Often times we see threads on here that question the usefulness of various fabrics as a backing. My take has been for quite sometime now that the idea of a single layer of fabric working as a backing is bunk. This conclusion I have come to as a result of many single backing failures I have experienced. I have tried silk, and canvas. It has been told to me recently that at least 3 layers were needed. This may be true. Question is, how do we know? Folks list bows they have made with layers of fabric as evidence, but without taking the backing off and testing the bow, we never know if it was needed at all. Aside from that, I think 3 layers of fabric is an insane amount of weight/work in the form of glue and fabric. But that is my opnion only and wont let that affect my tests here.
Instead of a woven fabric I have advocated the usage of the single strands laid down and applied like sinew. This is a method I have tried twice in the past with extream success. To the point of destroying the bow I tested both repairs on separate bows. Both broke in different locations than the original break when tested to the extremes.
As my test subject I have an Osage bow that broke because I did an especially stupid thing. I heated the bow in a weak spot to stiffen it, then braced it without allowing it to normalize. It broke while bracing. This bow had been pulled back at least 100 times before this happened. So as a side note, let your bows normalize in humidity before attempting a bend.
I will be doing several different styes of backing assuming the bow holds through each one. The most sure ones will be done first then the more risky backins done last, until the bow is finally broken all the way. Then I will show how to cut a bad limb off and splice in a new one. Last part will take a while as at the moment I dont have a proper bit of wood for a new limb.
PLEASE NOTE! This is not me showing how to repair a bow. In my opinion, this is not a safe way to do things, and a bow once broken shouldnt ever be trusted. Especially in the hands of others. It is only to show the power of various backings and styles.
Here is the Osage break in the limb inside the inner 1/3, where the most stress accumulates. Because it didnt break at draw the belly stayed intact, and I can do this. Also, the belly has no set or chrysels to deal with. Got lucky on it for this purpose. Right now the splits are impregnated with TBIII and clamped up drying. It will be a day before I take them off to apply the backing tests.
