First Bow Woes

[Crash]

So, I started making a red oak-backed maple board bow, 63" ntn pulling around 40-45 lbs (I'm guessing as I don't have a scale) Everything was going great, I had it to draw length at 28", and was going through the fourth round of exercise when I heard a crack... It was just a tiny little splinter lifting on the back, so I backed it with linen. I was exercising it again, probably around the 3rd round, when I got a whole lateral crack along the oak backing... i put a rawhide patch on it, and it holds, but probably not for long, it's hinging a little bit... so sad. I thought about using my heat gun to delaminate the oak and put a new backing on it. My tiller was pretty too! I'll post picks if I can get them off my phone.

[Pat B]

Now that your "New Bow Woes" are behind you please put this poor bow to rest. It has suffered enough.    On your next bow, try maple backed red oak. I'd bet your success rate will increase. 

[Crash]

but to quote Queen, "I'm just a poor boy, from a poor family" No, I will not let it go. Haha.  Not only am I cheap, but i also don't give up easily. After I had cut the oak, I was suspicious, but was already committed. I might be able to get some quartersawn hickory from a friend, I might try that next.

[George Tsoukalas]

Get your self a straight grained red oak board and have at it. You can back it with silk, linen or burlap. More on my site. Jawge
http://georgeandjoni.home.comcast.net/~georgeandjoni/