Crack in Bamboo Backing. Salvagable?

[EClem]

Any way to salvage this type of crack on the bamboo backing of a red oak bow?

[Roy from Pa]

Only chance you have is to pry it up and soak it with super glue under it, then let it back down and wrap it tight with sinew or a strong thread, from 1/4 inch on each side of the crack. Other than that, you could sand the boo back off and glue on another piece.

[EClem]

I might try the mend.  I suppose if that doesn't work I can always sand it off after.  Thanks for the help!

[macbow]

Agree with Roy.
Might as well get the experience of doing the patch.
My opinion is with it being red oak that it will fail again eventually.

[Eric Krewson]

Looks like your bow isn't completely done in which case I would sand the bamboo off and put a new strip on.

If the bow is tillered I would string it to open the crack and fill the crack with superglue and unstring the bow to close the crack, then clamp the cracked area until the superglue sets up.

Next would be a superglue soaked string serving wrap which should keep the crack in check.

 

My personal BBO has a similar crack and wrap and had been shooting just fine for the last 4 or 5 years.

[Sam Harper]

I've saved two bows that cracked like that.  I did it by just grinding down the bamboo all along the back under the crack was gone, then retillering it.  I ended up with some pretty thin bamboo, but both bows have held up.  Of course I ended up making them much lighter than they originally were.

[EClem]

Thanks for all the advice!  I pried up the crack, laid in some EA-40 epoxy and will wrap a layer of epoxy-soaked serving once it's dried.  This is the first time I've had bamboo fail on me.  It's usually pretty tough, though I noticed in the place of the crack, I had made the bamboo thinner than the rest of the strip.  Whoops.

Also, Macbow, as far as red oak goes, I really haven't had any problems, so long as the grain in the wood is good.  My oldest red oak is only three years but shooting strong.  I suppose it still has lots of time to fail.  Do you guys usually have difficulties with red oak bows?

[macbow]

I've never put bamboo on red oak.
When I was making unpacked bows for the grandkids eventually something happened.
Really hard to find a red oak board here in the stores,with good grain.

[bigcountry]

I have one thats like that been shooting for years with elk sinew and hide glue.