Now I have worries, compound riser conversion. Crisis averted! Thanks to ALL!

[OkKeith]

A while back I shared some photos of an old compound riser I was converting to a recurve as a "quick" project. Well... six months later and I am back on it. I did strip the aluminum riser of paint and did order (and received) a set of 50# limbs for it so, some progress.

I was piddling around with it last night, cleaning some leftover paint out of nooks and crannies and saw what I thought was a casting seam. As I looked closer, now I am not so sure... Is it a crack? Is it a seam that is opening up? It's right smack in the middle of the handle. I have wiggled and worked the riser and don't seem to get any flex but I sure don't want to finish this project and then have it fold in half at full draw! It is pretty straight for a "materials failure" and is most evident on the sides. On the front and back there is evidence of the casting flash being filed off and the "crack" doesn't seem to run all the way through that area. I have included some photos below.

I am a dude in conflict. My carless nature says, "Ah, it will be fine!", my cautious nature says, "It's gonna kill you!".

I just though I should get a third opinion on it.

OkKeith

[Crooked Stic]

Is that a chip of paint on the left in the one pic or a void in material. The rest looks like a casting line. spray it with brake cleaner and see if the line stays wet like some will wick in there if it is a crack.

[OkKeith]

Mike, I think that is a fleck of paint left in either a crook or a nannie. I poked around that spot with a pick and some of it came out.

OkKeith

[Mad Max]

We need a full picture of the riser and put a piece of tape where the crack is.

[OkKeith]

Full riser photo with an arrow showing where the crack is... as requested (well... tape was requested, hope the arrow is OK).

[Mad Max]

Was there a crack in the paint before you started?
I think that's how they joined it together!
Is there a slip on handle for even more support?

[Mad Max]

You need to lubricate any bolt you screw into Aluminum

[Crooked Stic]

Or anti sieze.

Sent from my LM-X410.F using Tapatalk

[Shredd]

I would think that that riser should hold at least 250 to 300 lbs...  Take the riser with a hand on each end, put the middle of it on a saw horse and start stressing the chit out of it...  If it breaks it is no good...  Posting pics of it is not gonna help you...

[Mad Max]

Quote OkKeith
"I have wiggled and worked the riser and don't seem to get any flex"

I would start working on limbs

[ozy clint]

perhaps you could conduct a dye penetrant crack test usually associated with non destructive weld testing. basically the process works by spraying a dye onto the area which penetrates into any cracks. you wash the dye off with cleaner that comes with the kit then apply a developer which looks like you sprayed it with a powder. it will draw dye out of any crack and show up as a pink line. (the dye is usually red)
i sure aerosol kits would be available online.

[Mad Max]

I was in Manufacturing for 30 years, if it is a crack it would have broke.
It's more than likely a Mortise and tenon joint, glued,pinned,welded.

[OkKeith]

I looked around for the non-destructive testing stuff that Clint suggested. There is a lot of that kind of thing out there but I could probably just buy a bow for what it seems to cost for the whole kit-and-caboodle (slight exaggeration... about $150 for the kit). Thanks though Clint!

So I decided on non-non-destructive testing. I clamped it to the workbench on its side and hung about 80lbs off the other end for 30 minutes. No problems. Flipped it over and did the same. Then on the back side and belly side. I suppose if I didn't damage it trying to see if it was damaged it's all good to go. Checked it for straightness with a framing square and nothing had changed after.

I appreciate all the help! Now to smooth the riser out a little and hit it with some paint. I have the material I will put into the limb pads to true them up. Looking at some Onestringer Limbsations for a little camo on the limbs. I am looking forward to seeing how this thing shoots.

OkKeith

[OkKeith]

Mad Max... thanks for all your help as well!

OkKeith