Is this repairable?

[jedway]

Hello guys, my bow cracked last week,maybe it due to the dry-firing before, my bad.
Just wanted to know is this repairable? It is at the root of top limb, some people told me crack at this position is irreparable. I love this bow very much.

Thanks.


 

[Possum Head]

Go to the Bowyer Bench forum the guys there have hands on experience. Pow Wow is a hunting forum frequented by clowns like me that kill for kicks. It don"t look like you could get epoxy to all the right places and clamping is a whole different game best wishes.

That does not look good at all! I think it may be time for a new bow for you!

Bisch

[South MS Bowhunter]

Check out JamesV on here It may can repair it for you.  Oh, I see your in China he may then point you in the right direction.

[Orion]

Looks like the glue joint separated.  It can be repaired, but it may or may not hold together.  Worth trying IMO.  Just drizzle some epoxy in (the thinner the better) and clamp it up.  Good idea to tape off the limbs so you don't get a lot of epoxy where you don't want it.

[jedway]

I will try with your advices.
A friend has some tools and equipments for building bows, he said he could try this for me. Before that I will ask for more professional persons'directions such as JamesV mentioned by South MS.

Thanks all of you:)

[tecum-tha]

Most likely this bow is toast. A lot of time adhesion of new glue to old failed glue is questionable. I don't know if it is the angle of the photo, but the riser wood towards the grip from the fade out seems to be hollow ground out slightly. Enough to produce a thicker and weaker glue line there. May you share the brand of this bow by PM?

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Originally posted by Orion:
Looks like the glue joint separated.  It can be repaired, but it may or may not hold together.  Worth trying IMO.  Just drizzle some epoxy in (the thinner the better) and clamp it up.  Good idea to tape off the limbs so you don't get a lot of epoxy where you don't want it.

Like Orion said here...Its worth a try. At this point it looks to be a delamination with no damage to the fade tips. Using a thin epoxy may hold up well if it hasn't been contaminated with any dust.

I would recommend washing out the crack with Denatured alcohol first and let it dry in a warm place real well before trying to repair it.

[Hud]

I have repaired a few bows, and used several types of glue including Loctite 420 for wood to glass and wood to wood. It is very thin.  A slow curing epoxy can work, if it is thin enough.  Titebond II is very strong, but thick.

If you are making the repair, yourself do a dry run without the adhesive. Use painters masking tape which can be removed several days later without curing. Cut two strips of rubber from an old bike inner tube, cutting through the sides will give you a top and bottom, cut so they lay flat without twisting. You might use two wood strips for compression on both sides. The strips should be narrower than the limb. About 1" x 1/4" and long enough to span the separation, but not overlap the edge of the bow. Ideally, the strips should be inside the width of the limb. The purpose of the wood strips is to equalize pressure when using the rubber to wrap the bow. Try wrapping from the center out to see if it compresses the separations before using the glue. The glue line should look like the others.

If the gap does not close, you could try to clear it out with a thin metal tool, paint scrapper, metal putty knife, or a dentist tool (pick).

When your ready to use the glue, make sure it is taped off to keep the glue off as much as possible. Work the glue into the end areas where there is some adhesion, and then towards the middle.  You can keep it open with the scrapper while adding glue. Wrap with clear wrap, or wax paper, before laying on the wood strips and wrapping with the rubber. Wrap tightly from the center out towards the ends. Use tape to hold the ends of the rubber wrap. Use the second strip to wrap the other end from the center out. This will pushing glue into the end areas (important). Wrap it tight. You will get glue running out, so be prepared, cover the work area, and wear rubber gloves, face mask and work in a ventilated area.
Avoid contact with the Loctite 420 or epoxy.

Let it dry several days, in the sun, or where it is warm. If it is cold, let it dry much longer.

You can refer to the manufacturer's website for specifications on drying time at ideal temperature.

After it is dry, remove the rubber, wood compression strips, clear wrap/wax paper, masking tape and to see what work is need to refinish, or touch up the bow.

If this sounds like more than you want to do, then it would be better to contact a shop that repairs bows. Good luck.

[Carpdaddy]

Looks like it's only in a none working or bending part of the limb so far but will quickly grow if not glued. I have had good success with the 420, very thin and will find its way into the smallest cracks. Watch it closely after the repair, if the lams are delaminating due to something in the glue joint it will continue to grow even if this part is repaired part holds. I had this happen on a delaminating bow someone gave me once, it just kept delaminating in different areas, I finally stripped it apart completely and quickly discovered a strange problem through my nostrils. There was a strong burnt smell in the wood lams. Don't know how or why it was like that but it smelled like it had been in a smoker! If yours is a result of a dry fire I think it can be repaired. Just my opinion.