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Author Topic: Help on '76ish Ben Pearson recurve (repair?)  (Read 901 times)

Offline mothemom

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Help on '76ish Ben Pearson recurve (repair?)
« on: May 27, 2014, 11:35:00 PM »
Hey all, I am a long-time lurker on the forums and am coming out of the dark due to needing help on an old Ben Pearson recurve my husband gifted to me.

So, to start off with: I am new to archery (as an adult....used to steal my brothers' bows when I was growing up).  Since I wanted to get back into archery (or in it at all), I bought and have been practicing with a lower weight all fiberglass bow.  Then my husband surprised me with the laminated Ben Pearson in question. It is a Ben Pearson Mustang, AMO 58", 45# that I think is from '76.

I have taken it to my local archery shop and their opinion was that this bow was safe to shoot (as safe as any bow can be, really).  It has no delaminations, nor did it creaks or pop when first strung up.  The only thing they could point out was that the upper limb was ever so slightly weaker than the bottom, but they felt that it wasn't enough to be concerned about (and that I have a shorter, 26" draw anyway).

Once home, I started refinishing the bow following the advice from the amazing restoration 101 thread & other great threads here.  It was then I noticed a very small area on the belly of the top limb where (I can only guess) someone had previously over sanded the fiberglass.

So, my question is this: is it possible (or even desirable) to add a very thin, small amount of fiberglass to that spot or will that just exacerbate the problem?  Am I better to simply leave it as is?

I will happily get some pictures uploaded tonight or tomorrow of both the spot on the limb and the bow when strung.

Offline mothemom

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Re: Help on '76ish Ben Pearson recurve (repair?)
« Reply #1 on: May 30, 2014, 02:06:00 AM »
Ok, it's taken me far longer than planned to get these pics up.   :)

The first is just a close-up to try to show the thin spot.  The second is the best pic I could get of the small hinge on the upper limb.

 

 

Thanks all!

Offline ksbowman

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Re: Help on '76ish Ben Pearson recurve (repair?)
« Reply #2 on: May 30, 2014, 10:27:00 AM »
I don't see the first picture of the thin spot. Did it post?
I would've taken better care of myself,if I'd known I was gonna live this long!

Offline ksbowman

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Re: Help on '76ish Ben Pearson recurve (repair?)
« Reply #3 on: May 30, 2014, 10:30:00 AM »
It looks like finish crazing to me and will sand off when you refinish. I don't see the hinge you're speaking of.
I would've taken better care of myself,if I'd known I was gonna live this long!

Offline PAPALAPIN

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Re: Help on '76ish Ben Pearson recurve (repair?)
« Reply #4 on: May 31, 2014, 06:58:00 PM »
Stress cracks ... strictly in the finish.  Very common on old recurves.
JACK MILLET-TBG,TGMM Family of the Bow


"Don't worry about tomorrow.  If the sun doesn't come up in the morning, we will play in the dark" - ME

The most important part of your hunting setup is the broadhead.  The rest is just the delivery system.

Offline mothemom

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Re: Help on '76ish Ben Pearson recurve (repair?)
« Reply #5 on: May 31, 2014, 07:20:00 PM »
Thanks so much to both of you! I was worried about any possible issues keeping the bow from being used.

I'll happily continue the refinishing and get to shooting it.  :)

Offline JimB

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Re: Help on '76ish Ben Pearson recurve (repair?)
« Reply #6 on: May 31, 2014, 07:28:00 PM »
I agree.The upper limb is supposed to be slightly weaker.

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