Does humidity play a role?

[bjhaug]

A few months ago, I built a 3 piece TD recurve.  I had some problems with it, with the riser failing, and then limbs breaking and such.  Anyway, I got it all sorted out and got it shooting well enough for my purposes before final sanding and cleaning it up and stuff.

I took it out about 2 weeks ago when it was REALLY humid here in Northeast Ohio, and for no apparent reason, the bottom limb completely failed.  It looked like delamination, but it looks more to me like the lam was pulled apart.  I had probably 200 shots off this bow before it failed, and I just cant understand why it would've done so now?  I didnt dry fire it either, I just drew the bow like I did 10 seconds earlier and it failed.

Any ideas why it failed?

[Apex Predator]

My humidity along coastal Ga is always high, and I've never had a problem.  I just got AC in my shop.

[Don Stokes]

I live in Mississippi, the humidity capital of the world sometimes, and it's never affected my bows. Heat is a much more likely culprit.

[Dano]

What glue did you use, smooth on?

[bjhaug]

Yeah, used Smooth On, mixed 1-1.  Like I said, I had probably a couple hundred shots off it, and the bottom limb just blew apart.  It was a short bow, 58" ntn and like I said drew about 80#.  It stinks, but luckily it was a 3 piece and I can just remake the limbs.

Also, I didnt mean to imply we here in Ohio have super high humidity, where I was going with that was, does taking it from 65 degrees (like is always is in my room) to 90 degrees with high humidity play a role?

[Dano]

What kind of form are you using? air hose?

[2treks]

Boy! I like the way ole Marty slides that in about A/C in his shop. 'bout as slick as his bow makin.
   Could be any number of reasons for the failed limb. Design, improper laminating process, asking to much of the entire set up. 58" bow pulling 80#@??? I would consider the design, as you say one has go off previous. I guess what I am saying is that, Lots of things can cause it to blow. Humidity is one but I live in Michigan with very high humidity and I shoot self bows and prototypes all the time with NO finish on them with out any problems. Now if your materials are not dry and equalized when you build the bow, things might get wild on you. Lots of options EH?
   Go through your building process and find out what the problem is. Good luck
Chuck

[bjhaug]

Dano, yeah I use the airhose form.  This particular form was from Bingham's as well.

[Dano]

There's two things I was thinking that could cause your problem.
One is starving the glue joint with too much air pressure.
Or A friend of mine swears you have to cure the smooth on at a higher temp than it will see in use. I don't know if your heat curing the glue up, just a thought.

[bjhaug]

Wow, I never thought of that, Dano.  That's an excellent observation!  I didnt consider too much air pressure!  I'll have to be sure to double check that when I glue up the next one.