Cracks in glass on backs of limbs

[Tajue17]

I have some recurve limbs that have cracks coming from the riser connection area,,, im pretty sure they are from
Over tightening the bolts but my question is if these are moving what are my options on fixing or stopping the cracks from continuing.... i will order a new set of limbs but i really like these ones too.... hope the pics work

[Tajue17]

Note the pencil marks indicating the cracks are traveling up the limb

[buckeyebowhunter]

Contact the bowyer, but I'd say you're not going to stop them. They may be able to fill them with CA glue and refinish the bow, they would hardly be noticeable but they will always be there. Probably not detrimental to the integrity of the bow.

[Tajue17]

Ok sounds good thank you for posting.   I know he is doing the part time thing and supposed to be doing small orders only but i will call him when they open today.   

On a side note do any of you know if there are other bowyers who would make limbs for another persons riser

[McDave]

On a side note do any of you know if there are other bowyers who would make limbs for another persons riser?

That's an interesting question.  I'm sure you and I aren't the only ones who have orphan risers that we would like to use for something other than paperweights.

My assumption has been that it would be tough to find a qualified bowyer willing to do that, because there is a lot of setup time required to make a “new” bow, and the only way they will make any money off of that is if they make more than one of them.  Or alternatively, you might find one, but the cost of making one-off  limbs would be more than you would pay for a whole bow of equal quality.  I've asked bowyers if they would make limbs for bows they have discontinued, and haven't found any that are interested, probably for that reason.

[buckeyebowhunter]

The issue with having someone other than the original bowyer make you new limbs is their drilling equipment and forms have to be identical or it will throw off the geometry of the bow. It looks like your bow has a two bolt system so you would need to find someone with that style of drill jig and a form similar to the original limbs.

[Tajue17]

I understand totally,, if the bowyer doesn't pan out i will have to do a ad to find a set

[JamesD]

Caveat, I am not a bowyer. I think what you are seeing is more cosmetic than structural. I have a set of limbs with forty plus glass bubbles on each of them, and they just keep on sending arrows down range. I would contact a good bowyer or two for their input. Most who have been in business awhile have seen a few actual bow failures, and should be able to give you some opinions that are based upon those experiences.

[Tajue17]

Well good news i called the bowyer and sent pics and he said that can be fixed so the limbs are getting packed up..  thanks for all the posts and hopefully not a long wait now

[Tim Finley]

Im surprised to see these cracks when you have overlays on the limbs over the bolt holes usually overlays stops that from happening . Putting super glue in the cracks wont stop them and drilling small holes at the end of the cracks and filling the holes with glue wont stop the cracks from spreading either . I don think you can stop them, I have seen cracks like that go all the way up the limb . This happens with ul glass using uls it doesn't seem to happen.

[Tajue17]

I remember a harrison I owned doing that and your right but i asked him if these aren't fixable just build me a new set on my dime its sn old bow and i dont mind.  My fingers are crossed if that happens that i get them back faster so i can hunt with the bow a couple more times the season ends jan31