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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: Path on December 24, 2024, 08:44:37 AM
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Hi, I just got my hands on an early 60s Colt. It's 60", 41 lbs @ 26.
I cleaned it up with some fine steel wool and mineral oil. I rubbed some mineral oil and wax onto it and it cleaned up beautiful. It is such a nice bow. I have only ever shot bows that I've made, which is 2 different longbows and some kids bows.
I was very eager to give it a shot so I made up a new B50 string and set a knock point. The brace height settled to about 7 3/4". I put it on my tillering tree and exercised it for a bit and checked the weight at @ 26". I just have an old luggage scale and it was right at 40-41.
I used a 500 grain arrow and took a couple shots. The bow is so light and comfortable and it shoots great. It may be a bit small for me and I'm not exactly sure of my draw length. I'm 5'10' and my tip to tip span is 72 1/2". Different measurements have been 27.5 to 28.5 so I was concerned about over drawing it.
After about a dozen shots I heard a creak and noticed a small crack in the fiberglass. It's about the arrow shelf on the back of the bow and is about 1/2" long. The picture seems to show the lam under is also cracked. My question is how big is the concern? Does it get retired right away? Is it repairable? Thanks for looking and any advice!
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I would say the glue under that lam is giving up. No guarantees but water thin CA may fix it. You should figure a good way to clamp it before the glue and let the glue cure with no accelorator.apply the glue then clamp.
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I’d just hang that baby on the wall and keep it for art myself…
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I was really looking for a vintage shooter but I think I will hang it. May need to take another shot or two just to see how it does over the chronograph. I would like to imitate the design and build one that's maybe a couple inches longer.
I noticed I can't feel anything when the bow is unstrung however I can feel it with my fingernail at brace so it is moving..
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Don't think I would be shooting it as is being it popped when you shot. You prolly gonna glue it before hanging up anyhow. You don't want it to come apart on you.
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Could you size down that photo and post it again… really hard to see what and where that crack is on the existing picture. Kirk
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Here's another picture. The crack is on the back of the bow where the cutout turns to flat limb
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I doubt that is where the noise is coming from. To far into the middle of the Riser.
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That is a static area. If you think that was the noise then you got some riser flex. I would glue it and clamp it as I said before and keepan eye on it.
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It’s a bit hard to tell, but in the first picture, the crack appears to run from the outside, along the glueline between the dark and light woods then it appears to run up into the light wood.
Take care if you decide to shoot it.
Dave.
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In the first picture, I'm seeing the same thing that Wood Carver described.
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You guys are correct. That is what I see as well up close.
My next step will be more closeup inspection and then CA glue while its drawn on the tillering tree to hopefully open it slightly. Let the CA glue wick in and clamp it as good as possible. I'll exercise it on the tree after and report back.