Is there any way to save this bow?

[JackSprat]

I had just reached correct tiller and weight on my first bow and had decided it was done. I enjoyed two minutes of success before it broke. The pictures were taken while braced, right after I heard it rip. I think the only thing holding it together is the silk backing.

I'd hate to lose this bow completely. Is there any way to save it? (red oak board, 72"NTN, approx. 48# at 28" right before it broke)
EDIT: I should add that the crack is about 2" long and goes in 1/2" on the width. When the bow is unbraced I can't see it, can only find it by the thin line in the silk where it pulled off the back.

   

[Jomohr84]

Ouch that's a pretty bad one! Some guys have done super glue or Epoxy the wood together wrapped with sinew and hide glue or other glue, but not sure at what point that is no longer an option. Hopefully one of the vets can tell you more. In the meantime search out threads on the subject and you should find quite a bit of info. Personally though, that crack scares me, and I would just start a new bow, maybe patch this one, but make it a hanger, not a shooter.

[SportHunter]

I'd call it your first bow and start on the next one.

[vanillabear?]

[Nim-rod]

Glue it and wrap it and maybe you will have something to leave strung up on the wall. Other than that I wouldn't pull it again.

[Roy from Pa]

I would start another bow.

[blue_beast_66]

I completely agree with Nim-rod. My first build had a hairline crack pop so I retired her to my wall.

[JackSprat]

Well, I glued it up and wrapped it last night. We'll see what happens, but I'm not too optimistic. Now to find some better wood for the next one...

[Sal]

It looks that your edge is too sharp where it lifted.  Those edges need to be rounded to prevent this from happening again.

[inksoup]

1. epoxy with a little acetone (to make it thinner) pour in to crack.
2. epoxy with no acetone pour around the crack and use fish line to support it.

you mat save it.

best.

[Eric Krewson]

I have replaced a broken limb on 5 or 6 bows by splicing a new limb into the handle.

[JackSprat]

Sal, I was thinking the same thing. Glad to have some confirmation.

I went overboard with the attempted repair, figuring if I'm going to try to fix it I might as well really go for it - CA glue in the crack, wrapped with art. sinew covered in more CA glue, then wrapped in drywall mesh covered with Titebond 3, more art. sinew, soaked with more Titebond. Writing it out makes it seem kind of nuts :-)

After 24 hours I put it on the tillering tree and drew it (with a pulley, from a distance) about a hundred times, holding it at full draw several times for 30 seconds or so. After it survived that, I got the nerve to draw it myself a bit, enough to get a feel for it and to take the picture below. The repair is holding up surprisingly well, but it still makes me nervous! I MIGHT try to shoot a couple dozen arrows through it, but it's ultimate fate is probably a wall-hanger.

In anticipation of my next build, how does it look (other than the wrap of course)? I thought the tillering went fairly well.

 

[Diamondback59]

i had a osage snakey bow that split like that on the back  i put a post up about fake snake and epoxy a while back  i went ahead did the bow with fake snake 100% cottn backing for the backing layed down a layer of epoxy added the cloth rubbed it in good applied another layer of epoxy   trimmed edges like a snake with a file when it was like half dry  turned out butiful  it gained about 25 lbs  but iv sience re tillerd it and it shoots geat looks great also  had it on display at mojam the draw back is id say cost me 40 bucks to do it in this case it was worth it but for some i dunno if it s worth the time n money iv put 400 arrows thru it so far and im happy with it  it was a good expermit  brock

[vanillabear?]