Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: 0209 on April 02, 2009, 08:11:19 pm
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Hey,
I've got a bit of a problem with my new osage boo bow. Anyways, the problem is, right above the riser, I've got a vertical crack forming in the bamboo and tell you the truth, I'm sort of crapping down both legs trying to figure out what to do. I've tried filling it with superglue and letting it sit for a little while but the crack keeps coming back, and getting a little bit bigger. I don't know what to do with it as I really want to keep this bow as a shooting, hunting bow. Any ideas on how to fix it? Anything, please...this baby is my pride and joy.
Best Regards,
Ian Mittelberg
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Pictures.......
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Ian, By vertical I assume you mean running the long ways down the back. Pictures would help and might help identify the cause. In the mean time, consider wrapping the area with thread or rawhide. I would especially wrap it if it start at, or is running toward a edge or into the fade out. In fact it wouldn't hurt to apply a rawhide patch on the back and then wrap the whole area with thread, for extra securtiy. Ron
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I've wrapped it with leather string tightly and filled the entire crack with superglue. I was thinking that maybe sinew would be the answer but I haven't any nor do I have any hide glue. So I figured the leather would work. I don't have any rawhide either. I'l try and get some pictures up tomorrow as my camera has no batteries right now and I can't seem to find any around the house. Thanks for all the help thus far and I hope more help comes.
-Ian Mittelberg
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Pictures would be nice but if it is running length wise on the limb and don't run off the
edge it probably won't give any trouble.We will wait on pictures. :)
Pappy
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i have had simmilar problems with a hickory backed osage, but the crack was on the belly. here's what i did.
put tite bond in the crack
secure end of long piece of artificial sinue in vice or tied off to a limb or something.
tie the other end to the bow above the crack
pull against your tie off point to get the sinue REALLY taunt
turn the bow to wrap all the way over the crack, VERRY tightley.
that should hold it well. if it makes you feel better, kind of paint TB on over the wraped sinue for extra securitie. hope you get it fixed up pal.
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Well,
Still don't have any batteries for the camera, but what I tried is taking a fiberglass mat (I know its not trad but its all I have) and some epoxy and wrapping it tightly over the crack. Once it dries, I'll put the leather wrap over it to cover up the fiberglass and hopefully that ought to solve my little dilemma. Thanks for all the help fellas.
-Ian Mittelberg
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Ian, I'd say "FOR Shame!" ,but only because I think rawhide & / or a thread wrap would have worked as well and been more in line with my taste. But, fiber glass reinforced epoxy should work well to resolve the problem. Ron
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I've had several bows with cracks and checks along the grain, and didn't even bother to fill them with glue. They're still holding up fine.
Nick
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Well guys,
It doesn't matter anymore, pulled her back today and she exploded into two seperate pieces, right at the crack. Who knows, can't really study the crack since I beat it against a steel pole right after the break so it's really un-studiable. Anyways, I'm pissed but hey, nothing you can do about it now right. Thank you for your help in this ordeal and hopefully next time, it'll turn out better.
Best Regards-
Ian
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By destroying the evidence you have eliminated a valuable source of information that could help you avoid the problem the next time. You are only dealing with a few pieces of wood and grass and not the destruction of mankind. ;) If you take these failures as a chance to learn something your bow building will improve. If you consider as a personal failure, that is exactly what it will be!!!
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i know the feeling all to well man. maby it will turn out better next time.
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Damned shame. Better results with the next! I've been there and share your frustration. Ron
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I did study it before I beat it. Broke right at the vertical crack and from there it followed the grain until it ran out the belly on the osage. I'll try and recreate a pic using the computer. Here goes:
I /I
I / I B
B I / I E
A I / I L
C I / I L
K I / I Y
I / I
I / I
I/ I
Hopefully this diagram shows what happened. The slashes are the break and it started from the vertical crack on the back of the bow. So, assess what you will from this, as it is clueless to me. Thanks for all the help.
Best Regards-
Ian Mittelberg
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well kind of a modern crude diagram,but i would say grain runoff
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Grain run off in bamboo? Ron
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;D ;D ;D ;D :D 8).....kinda what I was thinkin!!!!!!!!!!
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Im wondering if it might have survived if you just superglued it and left it. If it wasnt splintering out or cracked horizontally. Maybe the fiberglass and epoxy were to much for it. I've used bamboo that had long vertical cracks and I just superglued it together and put it on as a backing and had no troubles.Hard to say what happened without seeing it. I know it can be frustrating to have one blow. Most of us have been there a few times so we feel your frustration.:) Pat gave some good advice.
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he he he didnt realize it was boo :P
i like the taste of my foot ;)
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I had the same thing happen to me, i tried sinew and leather, super glue, kwick it and it still grew. Finally broke and the I saw i had a dry glue spot under the crack (looked like right where the clamp had set) yet both edges had held. This allowed the belly Osage to disconnect with the boo. After separation belly wood was at the mercy of nature and its own weak violated back. Can't say This was your problem, but hummm could be.