Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: PaSteve on October 11, 2019, 07:37:47 am
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This is a lightweight black locust bow I'm building. Going for 60" ntn and 25#@24". While working the belly this hole appeared. The limb is not quite at floor tiller but getting close. I stuck a pin in there and it almost goes through the limb but bottoms out before going through the back. Should I be concerned? Possibly fill it with saw dust and epoxy or super glue? The hole is about 3/32" in diameter. Thanks for replies. Steve
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I would be worried, the thin wood left at that spot might compromise the wood on the back.
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Steve-o, if the hole is straight through without collateral damage, then continue on, but drill it through first, don't leave that thin bottom end section intact. If you think they may have a cave dug out within the limb, start another one.
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I was just working a BL stave that had a pretty similar hole and found an excavated area the size of a half dollar. You never know what lies beneath the surface...that has happened to me a couple of times, so I am pretty leery of worm holes.
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I just built 3 Elm bows that had rotted knots, crooks,and turns etc. I fixed some pretty big knot holes . Some ran straight from back to belly, and some ran horizontal. I made sure I cleaned all the rotten wood, and put Elm saw dust, and crazy glue,packing the dust as tight as I could. No problems yet. Go for it.
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Elm will tolerate things that black locust won't because of the inter locking grain. I have used elm boards with massive run outs and had no problems.
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I have used that deal with about every wood I have ever used. Not just Elm. Has always worked well for me.
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I would probably try it since its light weight,, but thats no guarantee it gonna work,, :NN
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Thanks for the replies. I'll proceed with caution and plug it hoping that it may tolerate a light draw weight. If not, at least I'll learn something.
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If you want to be 100% sure, drill and plug, then back it with rawhide or sinew.
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Some of the BL around here in my yard started having insect holes. It was multiple holes per stave. Thankfully, I did not see any such holes in the last BL stave I worked.
Truthfully, these staves found their way to the wood stove.
Since you started it, I would drill it and plug it. I would use a wood glue. It would help to leave extra wood around the width and tiller that area slightly stiff.
I would not trust it in the deer woods.
Jawge
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Innocent looking bug holes often do this below the surface.