ash self bow

[Lee Lobbestael]

What causes ash bows to get those small cracks in the belly. crysels I think they are called. and how do you prevent them?

My last ash self bow developed them so I stopped shooting it before it broke. It did not have an aggressive design but may have stressed it to soon after heating it. I would like to make another and don't want to repeat this.

[George Tsoukalas]

Lee, ash is weak in tension and has to be really overbuilt. Make it longer or wider or both. IMHO. I've never heat treated so I can't advise on that. Jawge

[George Tsoukalas]

Also the tiller has to be pretty darn near perfect. Jawge

[Pat B]

I have trouble with ash fretting also. Try to get your bends more even and see if that helps. Ash, like other white woods usually is improved by heat treating. It adds a bit more compression strength.