BBH developed a crack! (pics)

[b.glass]

Thinking that I might try superglue and a rawhide or sinew wrap. Do you think it will save this bow?
 
 
 

[elk ninja]

It's always worth a try!  If they are going to crack, that's a prime spot.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

That will work, try & get as much superglue in the crack as you can. If you wrap it with sinew, also wrap the other limb in the same area. Just to make it match, more so for looks. You can then leave  it like that or back it with rawhide, snake, silk & even sinew.

[b.glass]

Thanks guys. Got it partially wrapped last night before going to work. I haven't looked at it yet today. I ran out of rawhide yesterday so I stopped a bought a dogs chew toy on my way to work, soaked it and cut three strips when I got the chance. They need to dry more so that I can thin them some to match the other. I also poored old coffee on them to help them match the natural rawhide already on the bow. I cut enough to wrap the other limb also. Played a little with potassium permanginate, on bamboo with no rind and on some with part of the rind off. Should look nice. Hope it holds up.
It cracked on the tillering tree after I had shot it a few times at 26 in. and I was trying to see what it weighed in at 27 in. It was around 55 lbs at 26 before being shot. Did I push it too fast? Do you think it is a craftmanship flaw?

[**DONOTDELETE**]

You had it tillered to what ( before brake) 55#@26," then you shot it, then pulled to 27." Is that right? Was this at final tillering or where you still going for a different length?


Most likely, You went to fast... I done the same thing twice in making 2 different bows...

[Apex Predator]

Were the edges of the boo sanded very smooth?  I've never had a problem, but I also trap the edges of the boo back and sand everything smooth before tillering.

[Minuteman]

Looks to me like the fades are a little on the short side and/or you needed to round the boo over some more. Looks like it can be saved if the crack is just in the backing.

[koger]

Heres my two cents worth. I have only built a couple of bows, repaired several, fixed hundreds of gunstocks over the years. Last year a friend had a boo backed bow, had a similar crack/split ont the outside edge,ran back at an angle for 3/4 inch, both cracked edges starting to raise up. I took brownells acraglass bedding compound, mixed thin with some ground up fiberglass floc, dye to match the boo. I took a piece of aluminum, waxed with past car wax to act as a release agent. Then i carefully with a dental pick, lifted up the boo fibers at the  crack and got plenty of acraglass under and into the crack, let the boo back down, put the aluminum on top and put a c clamp on overnight. Next day removed clamp and aluminum, sanded down any execss and touched up boo with tru-oil. Bow is still shooting fine, on a daily basis. This Acraglass is 10 times stonger than steel weld, per weight, I dont see much on here about using it, but it is strong,and adaptable to about any woodworking repair. Hope this helps. Sam.

[b.glass]

The crack goes into the belly wood by maybe 1/8 in. I have already tried to repair by superglue and rawhide wrap. I will post pix after I shoot it and if it holds up.
Where do you find Acraglass? Would I be able to find it in a woodworkers catalog? Sounds like something I would try sometime. (And I will probably have to fix something similar again!)

[b.glass]

I haven't wrapped the upper limb yet. Prepping the rawhide takes alot of time. But I shot it several times and it held up well. Doesn't look too bad either!
Considering not wrapping the upper limb.
Does parafin work on a bow like this. With the boo and rawhide and maybe some snake skin?

[Schafer]

It may be possible

[b.glass]

I'm just about ready for the finish. I think I will try the parafin. What the heck!
>>>-------->

[b.glass]

I finished it except for a few cosmetic touches. The guy I made it for loves it. I got a short video of him shooting it. I will get it from him in the am after work to put finishing touches to it. I will post pix/video tomorrow.
The finish on the back is pretty much super glue. What's your opinions of doing this. The belly wood recieved parafin. It turned out pretty good!

[kennym]

Lookin good!!      

[b.glass]

[b.glass]

[JimDE]

I don't think I would of given the bow to somebody else to shoot for fear of it breaking on them at full draw even though it was repaired. It will be difficult to see if the crack returns with it covered with wrapping. JMO I try to always err on the side of caution.

[Eric Krewson]

I prefer sinew for this type of wrap because you can see through it after it dries.

[Widowbender]

Acraglas is for bedding rifle stocks...you can get it from Brownells...

David