Vertical Checks in Red Cedar Bow - Is it Firewood?

[Grandpa Bill]

I just finished my newest bow - Rawhide backed red cedar - 35# @ 27"

After I started shooting the bow in, I noticed what looked like drying checks on both limbs.  I have never seen this on any of my other bows and don't know if this bow is fixable or is it firewood??

[Mo_coon-catcher]

I would just shoot in some thin super glue into the cracks. And I’d get near the edges without running out. Just put a silk or sinew thread wrap ther and super glue the wraps. That should be enough to keep it together. If the cracks runout the sides. I would do the same but expect it to become toothpicks in the not so distant future.

[DC]

+1 Is that Eastern Red cedar? It looks very much like Western Red Cedar.

[Eric Krewson]

Red cedar for sure, western cedar is tan to light brown and very porous. 

[Brevi]

i live in the land of western red cedar , which of course everyone within 400 miles calls cedar . 

The stuff used in the linings of chests we call by the various book names but never cedar

Lots of regional / local names for various woods ..  it gets confusing with names like cypress or ironwood   

btw the pic does look quite a bit like Western Red Cedar even though it is hopefully juniper heartwood , which can look like western red cedar especially in photos

[George Tsoukalas]

Yes on the superglue and then clamp it. Jawge

[Grandpa Bill]

Thanks everyone for the information.  I still am curious why it would split like that.  I know the limbs are not overstressed, it has taken no set whatsoever. 

For what its worth, it was a board from Austin Hardwood labeled Aromatic Red Cedar.  I was never completely confident in the wood which is why I backed it with rawhide.  I really like the look of it so I think I will try the SuperGlue and clamps and enjoy it till it goes on the woodpile.

Bill

[Eric Krewson]

I have filled more drying checks on bows with superglue than I can remember, I prefer to fill the crack until  it won't hold anymore, no clamps, I want as much glue in the cracks as i can get in.

I have never had a failure of one of my filled cracks.

[Grandpa Bill]

Thanks Eric....that makes me feel better about doing the fix.

Bill