Heard a big CRACK sound but see nothing

[richpierce]

I was drawing my 68" long osage bow (54# at 28") this morning and at full draw I heard such a crack sound I thought it had broken.  I can see or feel nothing at all even on the tillering tree and the draw weight is not diminshed.  I have one small sinew patch over a worm hole, put on with hide glue.  Could that be it?  I've shot only about 200 arrows with the bow.

[tom sawyer]

Could just be the hide glue cracking, sometimes new stuff will do that.  Could be the patch slipping loose of the wood.  Or could be the wood popping a splinter under the patch.  Keep an eye on it but I'd keep shooting it.

[El Destructo]

does the Sinew Patch go all the way Around the Limb??? Could be coming loose....I would put the Patch on heavy on the Back....and wrap a fine layer all the way around the Limb for support....JMO

[Gordon]

It's rarely a good sign when your bow starts makes cracking or ticking sounds. If it were me, I would put the bow on a tillering tree and put about 1000 pulls on it over the course of a week. If it is still holding together after that you are probably okay.

[richpierce]

Thanks guys.  The patch is just on the back, 1" x 2".  The sound scared me.  I will draw it 1000 times and see how it goes.  I don't have a tree with a pulley so I'll wear a catchers mask and a helmet!

[PatM]

I would wear the "lower body" protection too.

[El Destructo]

I would patch it right....and then build a Tree...cause I have the Scars to show what a Blown Bow can do....along with the Battle Scars on the inside of My Garage Door where the Pieces hit too....not a pleasurable experience pulling Hickory Slivers out of your Neck and Bicep....

[ricktrojanowski]

I blew up a bow for the first time a few weeks ago.  Wow!!!  Be carefull and make sure no one else is around just in case.  On a different bow I did a sinew patch it creaked the first time I drew it back but after that no sound.   Was the sound made on the first draw after the patch  was made or after 200 shots with the patch?

[Gordon]

Rich, an exploding bow can be hazardous at close quarters. Not to mention it can mess with your mind and shooting if it breaks. You really should use a tree and be standing well back for something like this.

[Marc St Louis]

A sinew backed bow can make noises at first

[Hillbilly]

Be careful. I had a sinew-backed locust static recurve that made one of those "mystery noises." I put it on the tree and pulled it to full draw about twenty times. Then I went out and started shooting it. A few arrows later, I not only heard a louder crack, but saw stars and little tweety birds circling around my head.

[Marc St Louis]

You can pull the bow to about 20" on a T stick and examine it closely. If there is a problem it will show at that draw length, wear glasses when you do the examination

[richpierce]

Will be careful.  Drew it 100 times last night with no sounds or apparent problems.  Pull weight is still the same.  I think it was some hide glue popping on the patch.

[uwe]

On the tillerboard it would show a cracked area and a risen splinter on the back when pulled. I think it could be the glue, although "distance diagnoses" have to be handled carefully!Think about: its your face behind the spring!
Regards Uwe

[richpierce]

I peeled off the sinew patch and sure enough, there's a splinter rising up.  I think this bow is done.  It was a stretch making a bow from this log, which I found with the bark rotted off, badly checked, and with worm damage, let alone the twists and snakiness and knots.  I learned something though!