osage knot problem

[horatio1226]

Can somebody help me with this knot? Any suggestions? Is this going to be a problem?
This is my first bow and could use any help I can get. I am truly bummed out. The bow is beautiful except for the little crack.Thanks
Brian    

 

[horatio1226]

This is the back by the way.
Brian

[Pat B]

If you look closely, You violated the ring(s) around the pin cluster. If you would leave the back ring sound and un-violated around knots this problem usually won't happen.
   If you don't have enough wood to chase that back ring to an appropriate un-violated back ring you could saturate the crack with super glue and add a wrap around that area. Sinew set in glue or artificial sinew or silk thread set in super glue would hold it together.    Pat

[horatio1226]

Could this be backed with something and then snakeskin over the backing?

[Brent Rudolph]

Pat is right Brian. You took off at least two growth rings and should have left at least that many on. Personally, I would sinew or rawhide back it. Next bow, when you come to a cluster or pin hole like that think of it as a rock just under the surface of a stream. The water will rise high over the rock and around it in an kinda football shape. Don't get bummed you got it this far. Backing it or a spot repair like Pat was talking about will give you the best chance at shooting it without any problems.

[Linc]

What Pat and Brent said.Superglue and silk thread or artificial sinew will put you right back in action.

[horatio1226]

Thanks Brent
I'm bummed but I've tried enough different things creatively to know that every bow I buld will get better and I learn more from mistakes than my successes. I plan on backing this with rattlesnake skin so backing it in between isn't a big deal. Do you think that hickory backing is better than rawhide or sinew?

[horatio1226]

Funny how I can see it in the picture but didn't see it when I was doing it.If only I knew then what I know now!!!

[Pat B]

For hickory or boo backing you will first have to flatten the back of the bow to get a good glue joint. With rawhide you wet the rawhide and it will drape over the back and contour to the irregular surface. A good raw hide backing will hold it together but won't add any extra performance to the cast. Your snake skin will go right over the rawhide and the same glues will work for both. I would suggest TBII, TBIII or hide glue to glue both backings to your bow.   Pat

[horatio1226]

Thanks Pat! You've been tremendously helpful.This is going to be a beautiful bow after all. I feel soooo much better. Brian

[Brent Rudolph]

Brian,

Pat nailed it. I like the TBIII idea. Less mess, works faster.......Just a good plan. Be sure to keep us posted on the "new" backed bow. I would stay with hide or sinew backing at this point, like Pat said, you will have to grind your back to a flat surface and start over with wood or boo. Get us some pics when you're done

[horatio1226]

Thanks guys. The rawhide is on the way!
Brian

[Lost Arra]

Hide glue and sinew:

 

 

 

[horatio1226]

Thanks Doc
I really appreciate you taking the time to show me this. How did this happen to you?
Brian

[Lost Arra]

This was a friend's first osage selbow build. Just like Pat said, a little "oops" from overzealous scraping/sanding around a small knot. I noticed it during tillering and didn't want to take a chance on the crack getting worse. The area ends up a little stiff but the bow shoots well and he's happy.