Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: dmassphoto on April 20, 2010, 06:23:42 pm
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I had my first trad bow made for me a few weeks ago, and got it on the 5th of April. Since then I've put a few hundred arrows through it and it's a beautiful thing to shoot. I was just pulling it back and heard a snap and I about had a heart attack. It looks like thebottom of the front has either snapped apart or come unglued or something. Can you guys take a look at it and see if it's repairable? Should I contact the bowyer and see what he thinks? Ugh, I really can't afford another bow, adn this thing is a dream to shoot. :(
Pic I took a couple weeks ago, the break is at the bottom.
(http://www.legionofspartans.com/forums/user_pictures/1222038073/med_gallery_8_25_73618.jpg)
Here's where the split/break is.
(http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p168/gobdav/DSCN0738.jpg)
(http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p168/gobdav/DSCN0742.jpg)
(http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p168/gobdav/DSCN0743.jpg)
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That's just gone at the glue line by the look of it.
I would expect the bowyer would like the chance to put it right himself.
I would guess, he'd take that section of the handle off, re-glue it and maybe bind it with thread soaked in glue.
Well anyhow that's what I'd do.
Let the bowyer see it before you do anything...
Del
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That's the problem. :( The bowyer is from NY and I'm in TN. Also, I wanted to shoot this bow at the TN Classic, and not sure if he'd be able to get it back in time, not to mention it would cost $60 alone for shipping back and forth, something I don't want him or myself to pay. I dunno, am I better off sending it back and going bowless for the Classic, or should I find someone around here that could fix it?
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yup failed glue line
if i was you,and im not.
but i would save my money,atleast for now,go to the classic and make a bow while your there
there are going to be alot of folks to help you get a shooter,may even be able to get it shooting while your there.
that all depends on how much time you would be dedicating to working on it while there
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yes I would contact the bowyer,,and you should not have to pay any shipping,, what day are you comming to classic ? we can make you a bow anytime,,,I will be there on mon,,I also have some finished bows shoot them all you want,,I need someone to test them anyway,,
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yes I would contact the bowyer,,and you should not have to pay any shipping,, what day are you comming to classic ? we can make you a bow anytime,,,I will be there on mon,,I also have some finished bows shoot them all you want,,I need someone to test them anyway,,
Thank you very much for the offer. I'm coming in from Knoxville, so I think I'll be there on Thursday around lunch time. I'm coming to the Classic expressly to learn how to make my own bow and the experience of being around so many archers. Plus I heard there might be good music after dark :) This is just my first real bow, and I'd hate for it to be ruined because it shoots so well. About paying for shipping, the only problem with that is I only paid $200 for it, so I don't want this guy to be out any money because he did give me a good deal and a good-faith effort. I'm wondering if the recent humidity (so much rain here today) caused this? As long as I know it IS repairable, I'm fine, I'll just be missing shooting for the next few days.
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see looky there
got yourself a heck of an offer already
great guy to get help from,and one who realy knows his osage too
i dont think it was humidity related,glue line failed
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Looks as it is just a overlay on the back of the bow.. Appears to me that it was flexing a bit to much into the handle allowing it to pop.. It kind of looks like a thin glass backing with that overlay glued over it.????
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Looks as it is just a overlay on the back of the bow.. Appears to me that it was flexing a bit to much into the handle allowing it to pop.. It kind of looks like a thin glass backing with that overlay glued over it.????
You're right. There is a thin glass backing. Would I be right in sanding that down just a bit, then trying to reglue with superglue or something?
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Personally I would want my money back, simple as that and that is why I won't sell a bow because shit happens
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because shit happens
AMEN ;D
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see looky there
got yourself a heck of an offer already
great guy to get help from,and one who realy knows his osage too
i dont think it was humidity related,glue line failed
I'm going to break a bow or two and see who I can get to help me make new ones!! This is a great idea!! ;D ;D ;D
Just kidding. That does stink about your bow, but like you've heard, I imagine the bowyer would appriciate the chance to fix it. And I'm sure there'll be folks around to help get one or several shooting.
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The area under the handle overlay looks too thin. That's a design flaw - I don't know how you can fix that after the fact.
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I think David nailed it-it's bending into the handle area enough to pop the glue line, a pretty common problem. You could probably re-gleue it and wrap it with thread or rawhide.
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It is a problem the bowyer should make good. The bow is flexing in the handle area and this will cause the overlay to pop off unless the overlay flexes also. Obviously it doesn't. Contact the bowyer and ask him.
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Glue Line....listen to the guys above....they know there stuff...I learned a few hard lessons (still learning em lol). Should be easy enough to fix, but I think the bowyer would likely make it right. If he won't and you want to salvage it ther are plenty of folks here that can offer some great advice. I'd prolly pop it the rest of the way off (CAREFULLY) then clean everything up and reglue it. Gonna have to deal with any bend though or you will be right back where ya started..
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Could you post a photo of the entire bow? I'd like to see the rest of it...
Keith
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If you don't want to send it back,I would clean it up and re glue,then rap with thread,that might hold,that's why I don't like glue on handles,I have had that trouble before. :) If you don't send it back,bring it with you and maybe get some advice. :)
Pappy
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It is a problem the bowyer should make good. The bow is flexing in the handle area and this will cause the overlay to pop off unless the overlay flexes also. Obviously it doesn't. Contact the bowyer and ask him.
I am with Pat on this.. But if you dont want to send it back then Like Pappy mentioned bring it to the classic with you.. I think The problem that caused it to come loose is that the overlay is to long! Allowing it to get into the working area of the fade.. If it was shorter I dont think it would be a problem.
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Could you post a photo of the entire bow? I'd like to see the rest of it...
Keith
Here's one pic, and a few others of the entire front.
(http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p168/gobdav/th_DSCN0744.jpg) (http://s128.photobucket.com/albums/p168/gobdav/?action=view¤t=DSCN0744.jpg)
(http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p168/gobdav/th_DSCN0745.jpg) (http://s128.photobucket.com/albums/p168/gobdav/?action=view¤t=DSCN0745.jpg)
(http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p168/gobdav/th_DSCN0746.jpg) (http://s128.photobucket.com/albums/p168/gobdav/?action=view¤t=DSCN0746.jpg)
I definately want to keep shooting it, and I'm not sure what you mean by fade Knightd. The bottom does seem like it's pretty long compared to the top of the overlay. :-\
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That's the problem. :( The bowyer is from NY and I'm in TN. Also, I wanted to shoot this bow at the TN Classic, and not sure if he'd be able to get it back in time, not to mention it would cost $60 alone for shipping back and forth, something I don't want him or myself to pay. I dunno, am I better off sending it back and going bowless for the Classic, or should I find someone around here that could fix it?
thats pretty steep for shipping, you should try usps-parcel post. I shipped two 6ft bow staves bundled together from OK to NC for right round 15 bucks. And as for the bow, im sure your bowyer would want to address the problem himself, especially if its a new bow. it really shouldnt be to hard of a fix. Ty
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KnightD is exactly right - the overlay is too long and should not be in the working area. If you want to send it back and think the bowyer will make it right with no hassles, send it back. If not, do like he said and take it to the classic with you. You can bet that someone there can and would be more than happy to fix it for you the same day. Don't sweat it, it's totally fixable.
CP
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Aries is right about shipping too! $60 is 'way too expensive unless it was wrapped in real gold foil and send overnight express instead of rolled in bubble wrap and cardboard and sent Parcel Post.
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Aries is right about shipping too! $60 is 'way too expensive unless it was wrapped in real gold foil and send overnight express instead of rolled in bubble wrap and cardboard and sent Parcel Post.
Well, I was factoring in shipping both ways. It cost $27 to ship here, so that's what I'm going on.
I just put some super glue in the crack and now I've got some clamps on it, hopefully this will fix it, although I can see signs that the top may be breaking off as well. :-\
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Just get it to the Classic and watch your troubles fade away. Anyone who makes bows could fix it. You either need to shorten the lenght of the overlay on the back (the one that is popping off) or rebuild the overlay on the belly where you put your hand to beef it up and make the handle area less bendy. Or both. If you get it to the Classis someone most likely can and would be happy to help you fix it while you are there...and maybe even have you shooting it by the time you leave! ;)
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Oh, I see the problem now - the problem is with an overlay on the back of the bow not the belly. That should be fixable.
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Just a thought, and keep in mind that I am only beginnering (yes, that is a word) bowyering (so is that), but couldn't you just pop off the wooden overlay and glue on a shaped leather handle the same dimensions?
The leather would flex and presumably, the overlay on the back isn't doing anything to the tiller except that it popped off, so maybe it really is?.
j
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I would not be afraid to pop it off and shoot it with out it.. ;)
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I would not be afraid to pop it off and shoot it with out it.. ;)
I was wondering the same thing. I'm definately bringing it to the Classic, but it's been 2 days and I'm itching to get in the back yard and shoot some. It's funny, because I had just found a comfortable form to shoot, and this happens, lol.
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I was also going to ask one more thing. Is it normal for a R/D bow to have the limbs seperate, and not one continuous piece of wood from tip to tip? I'm thinking if I tried to shoot without the overlay, it might come apart on me?
(http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p168/gobdav/DSCN0776.jpg)
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I've used that kind of splice many times on core laminations, and it is fine as long as it is sandwiched between continous laminations on the back and belly. Without the overlay on your bow, however, that splice will fail.
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Agree with others comments.
This is very easy fix, dont send back.
If I see this before it break I would have known this problem is inevitable, its very clear in design.
Im slightly surprised to see uneven taper on overlay.
Just need take overlay off careful and then clean the glass with sand paper on block to keep flat surface.
Shorten overlay by 5 cm both side then clean bottom with sandpaper on block.
Now taper both end of overlay so it blends smoothly to nothing.
When glue back on use an epoxy.
I would not worry though, it seems its just a aesthetics part of this bow, you could take off and still shoot fine.
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Well so much has been said, that is helpful. I have done it and had it done too me. I build bows for a living. I am one of those fools that follows his passions,I guess. The glue you must use is smooth on. Not cheap either and needs a heat lamp.I would shorten the fades and taper or add a thin pc of wood to the bottom of handle to absorb the shock of the flex. Most handles pop, because of no rise in the handle area,( if it is a composite bow). I incorporate that when I build the bow.Yes I think your bowyer would make it right. If you choose to repair, ask him to send you some glue , warm the handle area with a hair dryer, and finish pulling the handle off.Don't force. Sand the bottom and ruff up the surface to be glued. glue both surfaces to be glued. Now wrap with saran wrap tightly.Put under a heat lamp, not too close and let hard.I wouldn't think wrapping the handle after it drys, I wouldn't reinforce with anything, as of the contour of the handle. The glue should hold. As to the design, My guess is when you unstrung the bow you accidentally pushed back ward against the handle forcing the bow to go opposite direction in order to relieve the string follow?This would start the process of de-lamination.However the shock of the shooting the bow could do the same. The laminated splice is quite commonly used. It shouldn't cause you a problem . With out the bow in hand that is the best I can do. Good Luck Denny
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The bow should of been made at the poundage you wanted at your draw length I have made high poundage bows that didn't have enough handle wood before anything was glued on to strengthen the handle and popping the glued on handle was always a problem. I would want a new bow the patch up thing shouldn't be a alt.reglued and silk wrapped would hold but the handle shouldn't of been flexing sounds like a design flaw to me. To much poundage to little handle I would send it back if I were you
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Everything has already been mentioned I agree an easy fix sometimes when u glue things up in areas that have flex and u dont have good coverage it wil do that A strong epoxy will do the trick!
AA