Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Arrows => Topic started by: Dustinhill on April 11, 2016, 06:37:08 pm
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Hi, thanks to everyone who answered my last question about cracks on the side of the bow from the arrow hitting it. I learned a lot about spine! I made a new arrow and shot it with just the head (no feathers) first. When I didn't reach full draw the back stuck out to the left in my target indicating it was too stiff, when I shot it at full draw it went straight in. After that I fletched it and am waiting to seal and shoot it. However it still made some new cracks on the side of the bow. I sanded them out and am going to wrap the handle before shooting more. Any thoughts on other possible causes of the cracks from the arrow?
Also, The arrow is some kind of shoot, 7/16 in the middle, 3/8 at the ends, 1/2 at nock. Arrowhead is forged from an old square file. Feathers are turkey, 3/8 high 7in long.
Thanks,
Dustin
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Cool arrow..........glad it works for ya.
DBar
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Nice looking arrow.
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Thanks guys! I hope I can figure out what's causing the damage to the side of the bow, it doesn't seem to be a spine thing...
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In the meantime I'll find some leather and make a temporary handle. Id like to eventually go all wood if possible!
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Just thinking out loud here but could it be a string alignment issue? I'm just thinking we've been focusing on the arrows when maybe it's a bow issue?
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That's possible, my string tracks a little to one side. Do you think the string could be hitting the bow or causing something else to happen? It only seems to happen right at the arrow pass though.
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Well I don't know if this is even a "thing" but I was thinking more that if the string tracks too far to the wrong side just the act of the string coming to brace is shoving the back of the arrow into the rest/pass.
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I'd put an inlay of antler, bone, or shell in for an arrow pass. If you keep sanding at that spot, pretty soon you'll have an unintentional take down on your hands. It's common for the arrow to leave a mark or wear on the bow wood as the pass, but not a crack. Maybe just try ca glue in the crack if it happens again. That may stop it for reoccurring or getting worse.
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Can you take a picture?
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Thanks for the ideas everyone! That makes sense about the string, but it tracks the other way, it's closer to the arrow side than the far side. I will hopefully head out this weekend and shoot it and take pictures. Thanks!
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Sorry for the late response everyone, I was finishing up my last semester of school.I shot the arrow today and it flew great! It did leave some cracks in the bow though. I hope the picture is clear enough, the site doesn't let me upload hi resolution images. The cracks aren't very deep, but I'm worried that they could create a weak spot over time. I don't mind adding a grip or strike plate, but i would prefer to do so not because there's something wrong with my arrow. Thanks for the help so far!
- Dustin
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I dunno. If I am seeing the cracks it looks to me like they are more related to that knot. They seem to radiate out from it. Maybe I'm looking at the wrong thing?
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If it is on the edge, it could be that your outside dimensions of the knock, needs to be just a hair under the diameter of the shaft. But could it be that there is some run off of grain, causing it? I am just taking a wild guess here. Nice looking arrow though.
Wayne
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DC -I think you might be looking at the wrong thing, the cracks I'm talking about are on the edge. It's a hickory bow and the grain looks like that along most of the bow. To the best of my knowledge, the only crack is on the edge.
And Wayne - I thought it might be the nock as well, it's a flared plains style nock. But I doubt they would have used flared nocks if they messed up the bow.
Thanks for the replies!
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I'm looking at these marks
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Those are the ones I think the arrow has been causing. Were you saying you think it's the knot that's causing the cracks on the edge?
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The picture doesn't show it but they're only on the side that the arrow shoots off of.
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Not necessarily. I was just noticing that if you extend them they aim at that knot. I don't really believe in coincidences. And they weren't there before? They look like rays to me but I'm not there. What kind of wood is the bow?
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I'm guessing now. I don't see any fade, is it a bend in the handle bow?
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I went and looked at the original thread. So it's a hickory D bow. Is it possible that those are stress marks and it's nothing to do with the arrows? If that knot is right at your arrow pass area there is a lot of stress so maybe??
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DC thanks for the Input.That makes sense that it might have nothing to do with the arrow. They arw only on the arrow side but that could be a coincidence. Do you think I should just keep shooting and wait and see? I don't want to damage irreparably damage the bow as it shoots pretty well now.
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I've never had anything to do with hickory, I may have had a shovel with a hickory handle but you better wait for someone else for that advice. That said, if you don't shoot it, it might as well be broken.
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Thanks DC, I'm going to try out some other arrows as well. I guess it will remain a mystery and I'll keep shooting and see what happens with my next one!
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You might want to reinforce that section of your bow. I was thinking the same thing that the arrow had nothing to do with the cracks, as I don't see how it would be able to crack the wood, and not have any damage to the arrow. But like I said it could be grain run off, or like DC said, cracks radiating out from the knot. But a little reinforcing patch on the back, and around the knot, or even some super glue. Or Gasp..... Fg cloth, and epoxy, sanded smooth, and it will be clear, and look normal. But it would be a good safety in case it suddenly decides to go to the dark side of the force......If you want to stay strictly primitive, you could use a very thin piece of raw hide, and hide glue, but it would be a good safety precaution, either way. You can fill in the knot with epoxy, or super glue. There are a lot of ways to repair, or stop a failure from happening. Some one with a whole lot more knowledge about such things,than I have, on here can help you with that. It is just what I would do. But I am not a bowyer, so it would just my guess as to how to go about it.
Wayne
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I have to agree with DC. I think your bow is cracking from drawing the arrow not the arrow slapping the side. I think eventually it will crack to the knot.
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Ok thanks guys, that's disappointing but good to know. I'm going to at least patch it, maybe rawhide back it so it doesn't explode dramatically if it fails. At least then that means that my arrows are ok! Thanks for the help everyone, i appreciate you taking the time to help me clear this up.
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You could put a sinew wrap on it also.
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Looks like crysals (sp), with the knot I bet its stiff and pressured. Wrap it Sinew and hope for the best. Bob
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Thanks, I have plenty of sinew, I'll definitely do that! Bob, When you say it's stiff and pressured do you mean the handle isn't bending enough? I thought it was best to leave knots a little stiff when Tillering?