a crack.....on the belly - what to do?

[NYArrow]

So my only hunting bow is showing signs of a crack on the belly. Its a 64" two rivers r/d. 65lb @ 28". 2yrs old but really only 1yr of use due to a injury time out....any hope for it?

Its really a splinter about 1/2" long, mid limb belly and runs lateral (left to right while holding bow up right) I took pics but need to set up a photobucket acct to upload em...working on it.

[macbow]

I'd be sending a picture to the bowyer.
Never know.

[Roy from Pa]

This a wood or glass bow?

[NYArrow]

It's a wood tri lam. Boo, Bubinga (i think) and osage. Just set up my photobucket....pics in a few minutes. (except the photo policy thread is broken so I'm not sure what size they are supposed to be)

[Pat B]

640x480

[talkingcabbage]

pics automatically resize now.  just post away!

[NYArrow]

Here are the two pics from a few hours ago. As you can see the bow still shoots well, that was a group at 35 to 40 yds. Not sure how long it will hold up though. Being a belly crack seems less critical, but I'm sure will inevitably end as a fatal flaw...darn the luck

 

   

[Roy from Pa]

Super glue would be my first thought.

[NYArrow]

sorry, apparently the pics were too large. Here is a resized photo. (hopefully I'm not bending the rules here, but the thread for photo policies is broken)
 
 

direct link in case above photo does not show:
 http://i781.photobucket.com/albums/yy95/sllewsgroupllc/resized_zps189fedd3.jpg

[NYArrow]

Do you think super glue would hold up?

[NYArrow]

Thanks Pat. I think I'm in compliance now. Here is another photo of the crack and the grouping at 35 to 40 yds, it still shoots well. Feels just as good as ever.  

[horseapple]

Looks like its got a compression fracture where a pin knot was in the osage.

[horseapple]

Only bulletproof way to fix that would be to sand all the belly wood off and add another lamination of osage.

[John Scifres]

I agree with JD,  Get the bowyer to patch it a la Dean Torges' patch method:  http://bowyersedge.com/patch.html.  

Superglue won't help.

[NYArrow]

Don't think that is going to happen. Getting in contact with the bowyer has been a nightmare. I will send him pics and see if he responds, but has not been very good at communication thus far.

[NYArrow]

John, Thanks for the patch article - this may be my best option. Looks like fairly precarious work, but it's worth a shot. (For an inexperienced amateur like me I fear hinging the spot) Unfortunately, I can't get to it until next wk which brings me really close to opening day!

[Roy from Pa]

After seeing the pictures, yup forget super glue. I never did a patch, John how would a patch in the belly hold up? I would be concerned about it blowing out from the limb compression.

[Art B]

Looks like an area where a pin knot barely worked out.

OK, here's a simple fix for your bow: Take a round chain saw file and groove out that area, but no more than half the dia. of the file. Now, round out an Osage dowel the exact same dia. as the file. Glue in using super glue gel (sorry Roy). Finishing is rasping/filing/sanding down the dowel and applying a finish. Add a nice wrap if you like (not mandatory though).

Works super well............Art

[razorback]

Art, Where would one find a source for osage dowels. They could be real handy for multiple applications.

[Art B]

You can make your own easy enough Razorback. Small dowels like that I'll blank out close to size and run 'em through a fractional drill bit gauge using my drill. Once I get 'em one size over what I need I'll sand from there using the drill. Really quick and easy method. Larger dowels I blanks out and process like arrow shafts.........Art