fixing delaminated longbow?

[P.W.Smith]

I just bought a longbow from a guy at Green Mountain Bow Works-don't buy there!!. Anyway, I received the bow delaminated, and the @(#)#@ guy wouldn't take it back, and/ or replace it!!...So here I am with a bow with a 8 inch long delamination that is the result of a bad glue-up job. So, I am going to try to fix it (the lamination is a bottom limb lamination that simply delaminated along the glue line at the handle). It is a 60-65 lbs at 28 inch hickory laminated r/d longbow...any suggestions on how I should go about this??

[LoneWolf73]

I fixed one with super glue, because it is thin and seems to soak into laminations vice a thicker glue. After you get the glue in there, clamp it down good with c clamps with thin wood strips in between to protect limbs from the squeeze. Mine has held up great for years. Good luck. And be careful at 60-65 lbs. Just had a stiff lemonwood bow blow up on me....five pieces in different directions!

[elk ninja]

PW,
I would try thinning some smooth on (or whatever glue the bow was glued up with, but smooth on should work just fine if you don't know) with acetone.  Get it nice and thin, but not too thin.  pry open the lam area just a little with a toothpick and get the whole split good and soaked.  Clamp it snug, but be sure you don't starve the laminations of glue.  In other words, don't squeeze it all out.  Let it dry for 48 hours to be on the safe side.  And give it a go!  BE careful, wear safety glasses when shooting it, but my bet would be this'll work, at least for a while.
Mike

[P.W.Smith]

thanks guys... I'll give the glue with acetone a try tonight...I'll let you guys know how it looks in the morning
Derek

[d. ward]

Derek were do you live in Seattle?or better yet how near do you live to Burien or White Center....I would be more then happy to supply the loc tite 420 to repair your bow at no charge...I will not be free until this weekend as I am spraying 16 bows right now and a little behind shedule.I should have the fresh LT 420 on friday morning....No charge .... keep me posted bowdoc

[wapiti]

One way to get a good glue joint into a crack is to use a vacuum. As you apply glue to one side apply the vacuum (shop vac will work) to the other side and draw it through the crack thoroughly. Clamp up and let glue cure.

[P.W.Smith]

okay... I've got the joint glued, and it will hopefully hold...Thanks so much for your advice...Bowdoc I sent you a PM about my location...
Derek

[tippit]

Dang Bowdoc...when you movin' to the East Coast so I can get some good local help    Very nice gesture...Doc

[JEFF B]

way to go bowdoc  

[laddy]

I just checked out the green mountain web page, the warranty is in spanish, while the home page is english. You can call it the work of NAFTA or globalization, I call it suspicious.  A good lesson, a good bowyer wants his customers to know him.