bamboo spinter fix? now with tillering questions!

[elkhaven]

I'm new to the forum, thanks to everyone for such a fantastic resource!

I am on my 5th boo backed ipe (maseronduba sp? actually) bow and have run into a problem.  A large "splinter" lifted neer the bottom nock, it's about a quarter inch wide and 3 inches long and thin, about as thick as a playing card. It terminates (fades away) about 4 inches from the nock.  It lifted when overdrawing the bow a bit (target was 60lbs at 32 inches, so I was drawing to 33 inches, about 68 lbs).  I had been excercising the limbs after reemoving a little material for the final tiller (literally the last touch with a tool) and had worked up to the 33 inch draw length.  It was the fifth time at that draw length/weight and I was about to go out and enjoy shooting it a bit before starting to finish sand everything.  

Is this bow toast or are there some potential reliable fixes.  I have heard of guys gluing splinters down with super-glue type glues.  Is this really a splinter or is it a failure within the boo?

I can't get pictures uploaded until this evening, which I'll try to do but  based on the description are there any thoughts?

Thanks!

[macbow]

Bamboo is prone to lifting splinters if the edges get nicked or have not been sanded smooth.

Maybe I should wait for the pictures but it sounds like you could super glue it in place and then wrap the area with sinew or thread saturated with glue.
Do both ends to keep the mass equal and for looks

If it lifted in that area sounds like the tips (end of Bow) was bending so you probably could not remove material to get past it..
Ron

[Walt Francis]

2-X What macbow said.

[macbow]

@ seasons ago I had arrived at my hunting place. Strung my bow and gave it the customary 3 or 4 draws.
TINK, terrible sound to hear. After checking everything I had a 3 inch splinter right in the middle of the top limb.
I unstrung it and looked through the truck and found a foot of twine. I wrapped it up tight strung it test shot it hunted that day and finished the season with it. Then retired it.
Ron

[elkhaven]

Thanks for the thoughts so far, here is a picture showing the profile of the tip and splinter.

 https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/IXSHEIYVpjrtJEABc9uiv_ITxh5J2Y2M6697r-kJJK4?feat=directlink

Here is a photo looking down the limb from the riser.  It is the bottom limb that the evil doer appeared on.  Both photos were take at full brace...
 https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/86oGo2GJ3VaT19IEZa7gi_ITxh5J2Y2M6697r-kJJK4?feat=directlink

I'm looking forward to more thoughts!
Thanks in advance!

[Jim Dahlberg]

I just patched a bow very similar to the break that you have.  I used the method that Dean Torges has written about in one of his articles at his website.  Check it out.  I don't think you will be disappointed.
Use a thick super glue with layers of silk cloth over the crack.
Hope that helps.

[bigcountry]

I wrapped with elk sinew real good.  Still shooting

[macbow]

Since it is down the middle I'd also go more for the glued patch.
Ron

[elkhaven]

Thanks alot for all the input!
If I use a wrap what's best, I see serving material used and a mention of silk thread; what type/how heavy of silk?  If cloth what type, part of an old shirt or heavier?
I guess I'm not too excited about serving sized thread unless it's necessary, I wrapped a few fly rods and am thinking that  type of thread, am I on track or is heavier better?

[bigcountry]

have used silk, and won't use it again.  Its not as strong as I thought it would be.

I would use elk sinew.  Stuff is magic.  Gets tighter over time.

Second, I might use spider wire or something simular.

You can see what the sinew wraps look like

 

[frank bullitt]

I have a bbo that was made for me by John McCullough in 1997. The bow has been shot alot over the years.

About 4 years ago lifted a splinter mid lower limb. I had read Deans fix also, but decided to use Fast Flight serving. Still shooting and killed a doe and squirrels in 2009.

Last year, splinter showed in the top limb. I truely believe, this is the nature of all bamboo. Still love 'em!

Elkhaven, I recommend the serving. Like BC, could use spider wire, or such. If you have served a string, do same way, pulling tag end under wrap with another short loop of serving. Then coat the serving with more glue. Then shoot the heck out of it!    

Good shootin to ya!

[bigcountry]

Guess where that sinew came from frankbullitt?

[elkhaven]

Thanks to all for the help...  I went with the glue, serving wrap method, and it looks pretty good.  Here is a photo:

   

I discovered however that my tiller is still off quite a bit (for one its negatively tillered) and the uppler limb appears to need a lot of work at brace height (see next photo) the repair is on the bottom limb (right).

 
When drawn to 27" it's less obvious to me where to work on the tiller, mid limb or just beyond fades.  

 
Any ideas?

[elkhaven]

[macbow]

I'm going to guess you need to try to work just outside the fade on the left limb.

Best bet here is to use Eric Krewsons tillering gizmo.

It looks like your tips are are bending a lot. You might want to add the wraps to the other limb when finished tillering to even out the mass and maybe keep a splinter from occurring there. Plus it looks like you intended the bow to look that way.
Ron

[John Scifres]

Serious whip tiller.  I prefer a more round tiller so I would work the inner 2/3rds' of both limbs.  Mark the spot where it is hingy on both limbs about 10" from the tips with a big "NO" and don't touch it again.

[elkhaven]

I knew it was soft in the tips so I haven't worked out there in a while.  Since the pics I have got it bending more evenly in the middle, but now I'm a bit worried it will break down too quickly.  Do you think it'll pose problems with the soft tips?

I just put a cost of Formbies on it and can't get any more pics until that dries, but I will tonight out tomorrow.

Thanks.