tragedy

[Jackpine Boyz]

Hi, I think my bow just had a fatal incident occur.
I finished a hickory self bow tonight.  It was shooting great 9 days ago, finally finished the nocks,string, finish, handle wrap etc tonight.  Strung for a little while a brace then started working it up to about 24 inches when pop!.  

It is 68" bow , got a little light tillering so I switched to from my 28 inch draw and set it up for my wife at 25 inch draw. It was tillered at one point at 28 inch draw 9 days ago, but ended up at 30# so that's when I thought it would be nice bow for the wife.

I have patched splinters with rawhide before, but this is to long of a piece, about 10 inch splinter raised.  Before I hung it on the wall of shame I thought i'd see if anyone had any thought on salvage.  If I learn something new I'm up for giving it a go.

I was curious if fiberglass would be an option?

There was no hinge points or any other major issues with tillering. Had 3 other guys looking at it with be at a bow build.  I was actually more worried about the opposite limb as it had a slight (but stable ) propeller twist in it.  There is a fine grit like powder in the space at the fourth growth ring from the back of the bow, looks like about 2 inch area.  I am suspicious of dry rot.  There were no bug holes/knots/etc at this spot externally but doesn't look right internally at this small area.

Any thoughts to get this from a lost cause to a learning opportunity would be appreciated.  I am thinking this one is done though.

Thanks
 

[Jackpine Boyz]

[mikkekeswick]

For hickory to fail like that there had to be something wrong with the wood.
fiberglass is next to useless for backing a selfbow. The glass is way stiffer than the wood and therefore the belly ends up having to do more work than it should. If you backed hickory with glass you would end up with either lots and lots of set or chrysals.
The wall of shame is the best place for it now unfortunately.

[EwokArcher]

I have a personal policy of putting at least 100 arrows through a bow before I I vest time into making it pretty. There are often adjustments to be made and can save me a lot of lost time when random stuff happens like this. Sorry man better luck in the next one.

[macbow]

It would have been a tragedy if it broke and went through your arm.
This is just normal bow building.

[scrub-buster]

RIP hickory bow

[Pat B]

I agree with Mike. hickory doesn't just pop unless it has a fungi problem.

[Jackpine Boyz]

Thank you for all the condolenceses. I am past the mourning stage and ready for the next build.

Mac Bow, great perspective.

Thinking back I got this hickory from an area in the woods that had a bunch hickory loose all their leaves and bark in a few week period about 18 months after I harvested.  Maybe something brewing when I harvested.

Now I need to pick my next stave.  I'm going to give green tillering a try after reading one of Tim Baker's articles.  Thinking elm might be fun.  I believe I have black and green elm.

  If I come across a straight buckthorn I might tackle that though.

Back to the drawing board.

[takefive]

Bet you'll like buckthorn.  I made my first buckthorn bow last fall and really like that wood.  Seems very similar to hard maple.
Never heard of green or black elm.  Are you thinking ash?
Good luck on the next one.

[Carson81]

Looking at the photo of the bow you posted, I would agree with Mike and others assessment that you have some dry rot in there. When the wood has some dry rot/fungal decay it will break with those abrupt lines perpendicular to the fibers as opposed to sound wood that tends to splinter. Assuming there were no major scraper or drawknife booboos across the back right there, that straight across break indicates rot.

Interesting you noticed some health issues of that hickory stand later. I have noticed some ash stands around here that have succumbed to disease.

[Jackpine Boyz]

Take Five,
Curious about your experience with buckthorn.  I cut a decent piece today, was going to make one for the wife and give it a try.  She draws around 26, call it 27 to be safe.  Aiming for around 30-35# at 66" TTT.  
Is the sapwood good for a back? Or did you go down to heart wood?

There are a lot of little twigs about 1/4" scattered along its length.  Do you give them much thought?  Or are they small enough to just watch and be careful with tiller?

[takefive]

Yeah, just peel the bark off and the sapwood is the back of your bow.  My stave had some small twig/knots on it, too.  They only worry me if they're close to the edges of the limbs.  
I didn't post pictures of my bow on here, but over on Primitive Archer instead.  Seems to be more interest in buckthorn over there.
Here's the link if you're interested:

 http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,58695.0.html

[takefive]

Something I just remembered...don't let it sit with the bark on for very long.  The inner bark next to the sapwood is stringy stuff, kinda like corn silk.  When it starts to break down, it discolors and weakens the sapwood.  Weird stuff, but good bow wood.
The heartwood is pretty.  Pink/salmon colored.