Crack in the handle

[bigcountry]

Wierdest thing happened to a bow I have been finishing up.

To start with, about 8 months ago, I straighted out the blank by steaming the handle for an osage bow.  Got the tips lining up.  I did not have the handle shaped, just blocky.  Rawhided the limbs.  So, over the last 8 months, I tillered, and recently shaped the handle.  Its been stored in probably too dry conditions.  Ok, I have shot this bow maybe 200-300 times, and took it to the Balt trad classic, (unfinished).  Shot a few rounds.  It was misty, typicaly may rainy weather.

Ok, so the last two weeks, I put some timber rattler skins on and tips over the rawhide with TBB3.  I noticed while the skins were drying the tips did not line up anymore.  Just like all the sudden.  No big deal, because strung lined up fine.  Ok, so I put several coats of spar on it, and noticed a lateral crack in the handle running down to the fade.  

You can barely see it.  Not big enough to even get super glue in, and its already sealed.

All I can figure is the high humidity of the time I shot it, it warped, and put a slight crack.

I can't imagine skinning did that.

I am not sure there is much I can do about it, other than shoot it.  It doesn't appear to weaken it.

[PEARL DRUMS]

Wrap and glue it for insurance. I have a stave Im chipping away on now that has a few cracks right where your talking. Im going to wrap and glue them before I seal her up..............if I get that far!

[John Scifres]

My guesses, it rehydrated and then dried back into the shape before you steamed it.

The crack may have already been there and gone unnoticed but more than likely is a result of adding moisture and then drying too quickly on the surface.  I'd be worried if it runs into the fade and out the side but not if it stays in the center of the limb.

[Sal]

If you do a cord handle wrap you can secure the handle area further.  Cord wraps are great looking, good gripping and it won't look like a "fix".

[bigcountry]

John, it runs down the center of the fade.  I don't think a wrap would do anything. I bet your correct too.

I actually am not too worried about it.  But I learned a lesson about unfinished wood, coming out of a super dry winter, into 99% humidity raining day.

A simular thing happened on an IPE/Boo bow I was building.  It takes me long time to build a bow, and during the spring, it felt like the boo rough on the edges.  I talked to Dean Torges about it, and of course said glue creep from TB3.  He doesn't like TB3 however.