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Main Boards => Trad History/Collecting => Topic started by: mothemom on May 27, 2014, 11:35:00 PM

Title: Help on '76ish Ben Pearson recurve (repair?)
Post by: mothemom on May 27, 2014, 11:35:00 PM

Hey all, I am a long-time lurker on the forums and am coming out of the dark due to needing help on an old Ben Pearson recurve my husband gifted to me.

So, to start off with: I am new to archery (as an adult....used to steal my brothers' bows when I was growing up).  Since I wanted to get back into archery (or in it at all), I bought and have been practicing with a lower weight all fiberglass bow.  Then my husband surprised me with the laminated Ben Pearson in question. It is a Ben Pearson Mustang, AMO 58", 45# that I think is from '76.

I have taken it to my local archery shop and their opinion was that this bow was safe to shoot (as safe as any bow can be, really).  It has no delaminations, nor did it creaks or pop when first strung up.  The only thing they could point out was that the upper limb was ever so slightly weaker than the bottom, but they felt that it wasn't enough to be concerned about (and that I have a shorter, 26" draw anyway).

Once home, I started refinishing the bow following the advice from the amazing restoration 101 thread & other great threads here.  It was then I noticed a very small area on the belly of the top limb where (I can only guess) someone had previously over sanded the fiberglass.

So, my question is this: is it possible (or even desirable) to add a very thin, small amount of fiberglass to that spot or will that just exacerbate the problem?  Am I better to simply leave it as is?

I will happily get some pictures uploaded tonight or tomorrow of both the spot on the limb and the bow when strung.

Title: Re: Help on '76ish Ben Pearson recurve (repair?)
Post by: mothemom on May 30, 2014, 02:06:00 AM

Ok, it's taken me far longer than planned to get these pics up.   :)

The first is just a close-up to try to show the thin spot.  The second is the best pic I could get of the small hinge on the upper limb.

  (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v366/MoTheMom/100_1093.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/MoTheMom/media/100_1093.jpg.html)

  (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v366/MoTheMom/20140529_192615.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/MoTheMom/media/20140529_192615.jpg.html)

Thanks all!

Title: Re: Help on '76ish Ben Pearson recurve (repair?)
Post by: ksbowman on May 30, 2014, 10:27:00 AM

I don't see the first picture of the thin spot. Did it post?

Title: Re: Help on '76ish Ben Pearson recurve (repair?)
Post by: ksbowman on May 30, 2014, 10:30:00 AM

It looks like finish crazing to me and will sand off when you refinish. I don't see the hinge you're speaking of.

Title: Re: Help on '76ish Ben Pearson recurve (repair?)
Post by: PAPALAPIN on May 31, 2014, 06:58:00 PM

Stress cracks ... strictly in the finish.  Very common on old recurves.

Title: Re: Help on '76ish Ben Pearson recurve (repair?)
Post by: mothemom on May 31, 2014, 07:20:00 PM

Thanks so much to both of you! I was worried about any possible issues keeping the bow from being used.

I'll happily continue the refinishing and get to shooting it.  :)

Title: Re: Help on '76ish Ben Pearson recurve (repair?)
Post by: JimB on May 31, 2014, 07:28:00 PM

I agree.The upper limb is supposed to be slightly weaker.