Selfbow in need of HELP

[BrianO]

I have a good friend who has been wanting to build a selfbow himself. I have built a few but I am no means great at it. In the process of tillering we developed a small splinter.      
I was able to remove most of it by scrapping a very little bit from the side of the bow. It had only been drawn to about 19 inches. Because of the way the wood grain lays it was a little wide with plenty of weight to spare so I narrowed it a bit and it actually looked better on tiller. I heated the crack very lightly and proceeded to put some ca in the crack. After about 3 coats I again flexed the bow to about 18 to 19 inches and it seemed to hold. We've worked quite abit on it and it is looking pretty good to about 23 inches but now it looks like the crack started running again. #1 indicates the start of the crack. #2 is the point that I had removed to and at the time of gluing was as far as the crack had went. Now #3 is the point that the crack has traveled to. It has not "popped" and it seems to be holding but I am hesitant to go any further. The bow is drawing 55# @22 inches and we are shooting for 55 @27. What now???????? Help please.    


BrianO                        

[Pat B]

You can round all the edges more without affecting the weight much if at all. I would add super glue again(I don't heat the wood first), round the corners and add a wrap over the splinter. You can do a temperary wrap now until you finish tillering and a permanent one just before adding the finish to the bow.
 Is it made from a board or tree stave?

[BrianO]

It is made from a tree stave that is about 2 years old. It is a belly stave that was about 2 inches wide. It seems good and dry. The rings are good and thick about 3/16 of an inch wide. How does the tiller look thus far.

As far as a wrap I have some artificial sinew do you think that would work. What would you use.

BrianO

[Pat B]

The right limb looks a bit stiff. A scrape or 2 right at the right fade should help. Which is the top limb?
 Art sinew will work but something less stretchy would be better. I'd use real sinew sealed with super glue or silk thread set in and sealed with super glue.

[okie64]

Ive used dental floss and super glue to hold down splinters like that before.