Tip damage; can damage to the glass be fixed?

[shamus]

I just came across this beat-up recurve that I need to refinish. I noticed that the upper limb tip has this deep scratch in the glass.

 


the scratch also goes off the side of the limb.
 


other views
 
 


If this was one of my selfbows, I'd fill the scratch in with epoxy. I'd then wrap two small bands of serving: one on each end of the scratch. But since this is fiberglass, I;m not sure if the rules are different.

thoughts?

[Charlie Lamb]

Jonathan... I'd warm the limb tip carefully with a hair dryer and put a couple of drops of very thin super glue on the "crack". Put enough so that there is a little excess when you are done.

Then I'd carefully sand the finish on the back of the tips and super glue an overlay on there. Come down at least an inch below the nock with it.

Sand everything down nice and flush and put on a nice sealer coat.

[shamus]

To clarify: what should the overlay be made out of?

Obvious question, In know, but: When you say 'back of the tip" you mean the back side and not the belly side?

[Charlie Lamb]

By "back" I mean the back of the bow...same side as the crack is on.

just about anything can be used for an overlay, but something that's complimentory to the riser wood would look best.

A scrap of walnut would work fine if you have it.

[R.W.]

Charlie Lamb

With a hardwood overlay applied to the limb tip, could you use Fast Flite string with the bow?

[Charlie Lamb]

If I was putting the overlay on with an eye to using FF I'd put some phenolic or fiberglass under the wood just for extra safety.

In the case of Shamus' bow, I doubt he'd be out that much if something did happen with only wood for an overlay.