White spots on a limb ? ? ?

[OBIOU HUNTER]

Hi,
   

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I'm interested by a used bow, the owner told me there are spots on one limb and sent me pics.

Could you tell me what it is ? Is it dnagerous for the life of the bow ?  Thanks...

[shoes]

Ill be watching this also for a response. Have a bow with cocobolo limbs that did this also.

[Hill Hunter]

I had a bow do that and the bowyer made me a new set of limbs, no questions ask, so it must not be a good thing.

[Spookeytooth]

cocobolo is an oily wood, very hard to glue, epoxy, whatever. It looks like pullaway. IF it doesnt progress, you are safe, If it changes in any way, it's TOAST. I work with exotic woods all the time and cocobolo is one of the most difficult woods to glue up and laminate to.

[Stinger]

How old is the bow?  I seem to remember reading that there was a period a couple of years ago where there was a problem with the glass that most bowyers were using and that you would get these spots or streaks in the finish.  I recall reading that it is not problem with the bow, but merely cosmetic.

[Swamp Yankee]

That's not your run of the mill glass blemish; looks like a delamination in progress to me.  I'd take a pass on that bow and find another.

[see]

Elmer Patton told me milky looking spots usually indicate a bow has been dri-fired but said was never an absolute prof it had.

[wingnut]

Those are glue voids (air bubbles) that probably have been there since it was laid up.  The fact that they appear to be turning white is not good as it might mean that moisture is getting into the limbs.  Otherwise the are cosmetic.  Keep an eye on them and if they change or grow stop shooting it.

Mike

[TexasTrad]

This is my bow......It has been like this since I bought it used and has not been a problem.   This is a HABU recurve which is othewise in pristine condition.     I am glad that OBIOU posted these pics because I thought this was purely a cosmetic issue (the limbs are perfectly smooth -- I thought was just a discoloration issue).  I sent him pics of the limbs because I wanted to point out the marks but didnt have a clue that it could be a real problem.   If there is any chance it is a delamination issue I wont sell the bow for any price (but maybe the riser??).  

Later today,  I am going to take it to a  very good local  bowyer to get his thoughts.   Wingnut actually fits the description of a "very good local bowyer" as well and I am sure he is right but I am going to see GW Flanagan today.   Wingnut....I am in Fort Worth and need to come see you about one of your selfbows.

[d. ward]

Those are normaly caused by air bubbles in the resin.The resin cures and the bubbles are traped in there forever.The one in the pic may look worse then normal but all fiberglass does have those air bubbles in it.You can not see them in fiberglass that has color added.Most cases there's not a problem.But like I say some are worse then other and you might keep an eye on them bd

[Riverbend]

I have a couple of longbows with clear glass and exotic veneers that have similar spots under the glass. Have shot them for years with no progression of getting worse. However I always keep an eye on them..

[TexasTrad]

Thanks for the input.  I showed GW Flanagan this limb today. He said that it likely would never be a problem but that he would never sell the bow with this condition because it could delaminate at some point.   So, I guess this is one of the bows I will be keeping.

[BWD]

I've got one with similar spots, but not as severe. Reckon it's a keeper.lol

[Sixby]

Air between the glass and wood. That does not appear to be in the glass itself but it is air formed by gas escaping from the wood during the cooking of the limb. Evidently the coca was a bit wet or green / It is extremely oily to start with and that causes problems. Habu now puts coca over the glass instead of under it. That way the limb cannot delaminate but the coca could possibly.

I would consider that one chancy/
I am in 100 percent agreement with Mike.

God Bless you all, Steve

[EL Mejor]

GOOD INFO,,,,THANKS

[BigJim]

Are the bubbles really that white? or is the flash making them so. It doesn't matter what wood it is, this can happen with any, and for any number of reasons. It happens because of a void in glue at that spot and can be happen for any number of reasons. How old is the bow? has it changed in that amount of time? I have made many, many cocobolo bows with no bubbles or problems. They probably wiped it with acetone before gluing. That is a common practice that can create problems with oily wood.
I had some air bubble problems a while back and spoke to several of the best in the buisness. I was told by one of them "not much you can do, sometimes you just get them, use more glue".

If they haven't changed in time, shoot it. If you have seen changes, hang it over a mantle.
BigJIm

[misfire]

I've got the same thing on one of my bows. If I remember I'll take a photo to share but I've been shooting it now for 2 years w/o incident.