Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Setarip on October 30, 2015, 12:55:24 pm
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Hey guys,
So some of you saw my first bow I posted yesterday. The bow shoots great! I recently hit a max of 158.8 fps with a 11.25 gpp arrow. Now after shooting a few hundred arrows through her, I brought her in and inspected each limb. I noticed on the bottom limb, about midway through it two small (about 1/4" long max) cracks. They are barely noticeable and only one can I barely notice it when running my fingers across it. I rubbed in some super glue gel. Do you think these are to be worried about? Thanks!!!
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Your bow is from a red oak board correct? If so then that's the early wood channels and it's nothing to worry about.
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It is indeed. Thank you for the reply! I am quite new to all of this so when I see something sketchy I get a little worried. :P
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I can't see, do the cracks go with the grain or across the grain?
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Now, if you get cracks going across the bow. Then that's a serious problem, but those aren't cracks, they are part of the early wood pores. And 158fps with an 11 gpp arrow! That's very good even for an experienced bowyer, let alone for a first bow, very well done, I see many great bows from you in the future!
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Can you put some circles and arrows on the picture to show us where the cracks are?
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They go across the grain. I must have misunderstood the first reply. They are quite small, and honestly I don't remember if they were there all along or not. I just went and put another 100 shots through it and they seem stable. Here are the two pics blown up with the cracks in the center of the frame.
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That is a break in the grain and unfortunately it don't look good for that piece of wood. Did you bend it too far before it was ready?
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I don't recall when I would have. I did draw her out to roughly 30.5" during tiller, but ever since I have stayed at 28" for safety. So maybe then? I definitely can get better with my tillering. I'm going to keep a close eye on it and make sure I don't draw past 28". Like I said earlier, after another 100 shots or do everything looked, felt, and sounded stable. No creaks or splintering sounds from it.
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The next bow will be backed and better wood will be used.
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Sorry to say that is an explosion waiting to happen.
It's good to never draw a bow past its intended draw length, no need to over stress it if it doesn't need to. You could back it and hope for the best. I would probably hang er up and pick up a new piece of wood.
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Doesn't look good, but I have a feeling they were there already, rather than something you did, because of the gray discoloration -- looks like weathering. Not something you'd see with a new break. Sometimes when a tree is felled it hits a rock or something hard and that can propagate in, cross grain. We used to call that thunder shakes.
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He rubbed CA into the cracks. The discoloration could be from that. CA is clear but fingers usually have a bit of dirt on them ;)
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Oh okay, missed the CA part.
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I though he was talking about the channels, I didn't even see that crack. Sorry to say but that's probably the last hundred shots you should take with that thing :(
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Well bummer! Thanks for the info gents.
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I know exactly how you feel. It's BIG disappointment, when you think you did well. My second bow which I was really proud of raised a tiny splinter after a few weeks. I think pretty much everybody knows how that is. Kinda hard to believe something so small can mean it's time to hang up the bow, and think about your next one. But you'll do it. And it will be even better.
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Hey PlanB,
It totally is a disappointment, but I learned a ton making this one. I didn't even think about it or realize it earlier, but I did shoot the bow accidentally with an arrow that was WAY underweight-like 6.5gpp. Maybe that was the culprit? I think this may be my last Unbacked bow, and possibly my last red oak one too :P
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I wouldn't give up on un-backed bows forever just because of that first one, Setarip. You almost had a superb example right out of the starting gate. Maybe the next one you'll want backed, just to have a success and something to shoot with. But I'll bet interest will tempt you back to something challenging to your strong woodworking skills.
Another thing is, you should really look carefully at your bow now to figure out why it happened. Not just chalk it up to an event, like a light arrow. Look at the wood carefully, thickness, width, grain, tiller, think about why that area overstressed and figure out what change would have prevented it.
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I wouldn't give up on un-backed bows forever just because of that first one, Setarip. You almost had a superb example right out of the starting gate. Maybe the next one you'll want backed, just to have a success and something to shoot with. But I'll bet interest will tempt you back to something challenging to your strong woodworking skills.
Another thing is, you should really look carefully at your bow now to figure out why it happened. Not just chalk it up to an event, like a light arrow. Look at the wood carefully, thickness, width, grain, tiller, think about why that area overstressed and figure out what change would have prevented it.
+1 There a millions of unbacked bows around, don't let one put you off
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Thanks for the encouragement! That is a terrific idea about checking it over and finding out what I can do better on the next one. I probably won't abandon the Unbacked bow, but will definitely make a backed one for bow 2 this week. I'm thinking of maybe something with a yellow heart (or other suitable hardwood) for the belly, and a maple or hickory backing. I don't have access to really large pieces of wood so I'm toying with the idea of finger splicing the wood together to achieve a longer bird to work with.
On a side note, this was my first tillering job. I think I may have over worked the bow as I tillered her out. I would work the bow 50-100 times at each inch of draw length! Maybe overkill?
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Did I miss where you said if the cracks where on the back or belly? Would mean different things depending on the answer.
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There are two very small (1/4" long), and very, very shallow perpendicular cracks on the back. I shot a lot through it the other day after I noticed them and they didn't open up. I am thinking of patching them and going from there. It's not a huge deal, and ultimately I'm beginning the next bow this week hopefully.
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If I may suggest...put that bow aside. Don't destroy it or throw it away but set it aside for another day. Trying to make something from it now in your early days is more likely gonna be less productive than starting a new bow and utilizing what you learned from this bow to build another. Save this bow for a later date so you can use info you have gleaned from this process and others to come to do a thoughtful repair or give her the end she disserves.
I have what I call the "Corner of Shame". When I get to a place in the building process that confounds me or my interest in the stave wanes for one reason or another the stave or potential bow goes in the corner. I have gone back to this "corner" on quite a few occasions and made good bows from what were one time "losers" just because I was more informed about the process, problems and problem solving than before. The more you know the better you'll be as a wood bow builder and the lessons you can learn from a "failure" or "corner" candidate will get you too success in a more confident, educated manner.
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Hey Pat,
That's not a bad idea! As with nearly all things I get into, I thoroughly research whatever I am doing before I actually "break ground". As much as I enjoy shooting bows, I actually enjoy the research and development much more! I am a huge sucker for numbers and energy conversions so I get caught up into that stuff quite a bit on theses types of projects. I am setting this one aside while I work on an interesting idea that came to mind today. Have a great Sunday!
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Good luck on your new project! ;)
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Yeah, good luck! BTW, Pay close attention to where they are, those cracks, like are they in about the same spot on each limb? If so, then you learned something about tillering, and what looked perfect may not have been, you know?
If you want to save that bow, a linen back would do it, but it is a shame, because your oak was quite pretty.