Any tricks to getting over the fear of the "break-up"

[Zradix]

Hey guys..

I've had so many bows crack, break, blow up on me lately to has made me a bit draw shy.

At this point, I'm borrowing a proven older Bear recurve for a while.
I can't seem to get over this expectation of it going on me at full draw.

Anyway, I seem to have lost all confidence in bows in general.
Before I broke a few, I really never even thought about it..just pulled em back, held it till it felt right and let er go.

This problem is really stealing my concentration.

Any tricks you'd like to pass on for getting over the fear of a "break-up" lol?

My only thought is to shoot a lot and hopefully get over it..lol

[Pat B]

Quit breakin um!  d;^)
 Do you know why they are breaking? Study those breaks and try to learn something from them.

[Roy from Pa]

Make them right and they will stay together..  

[jsweka]

fiberglass helps    

Every time I start getting a desire to build all wood bows, I read a thread like this.

[Wolftrail]

I'm new to the game, maybe 15 under my belt. Just for laughs I built a 3 piece from a pair of skis, just because, will it ever break, I doubt it. The bow is a total slug. limbs to heavy, but it shoots where I point it, its a center shot 15" riser.
Most wood bows I build now have backing, just like using diapers for a 3 year old, just in case.

[Wolftrail]

jsweka  you are to funny, the biggest chuckle I had all day. Good stuff.  

[Pat B]

Just because wood bows are simple doesn't mean they are easy. Like everything else, if they are not made properly there is a good chance they will break. Same with FG bows. I've only built one glass bow and it blew up before I ever got a string on it. I still have the bow and I know why it broke. If I ever make another(which I doubt) I'll know better what to do right.
 Have you actually studied the breaks to see why? If you learn from your mistakes they are not failures.

[Pat B]

Glass didn't help this bow that Soy built for the bow trade.
 http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j380/thadsoy/IMG_20140510_243441_285.jpg

[Roy from Pa]

If you can build with Lego's, you can build a glass bow..    LOL

[Al Dean]

Wear saftey glasses for the first 100 shots from a new bow.  Protecting my eyes gives me confidence.

[Walt Francis]

Guess I'm a little dense, I just grab another one and start shooting and any fear goes away after releasing a few arrows.

[Ice Mike]

The only trick I've found is to make sure you are in a really quiet place when shooting in a new bow. I depend more on my ears than anything else. I listen while I draw, and then I hold at full draw and listen. Then I listen very intently as I release the string. I use beaver or otter string silencers to kill the vibration noise of the string so I can hear the wood. If you're listening, the bow will tell you before it breaks. If you listen, you won't have one blow up up you. Just stop and let it down any time your hear a faint crack or any popping. I also inspect the bow after every 3 or 4 shots until I get to 250. Once I'm past 250 shots, with no noise or visible fissures, I feel pretty safe that's it's a shooter.

Hope this helps.

[Pat B]

Are you using a tiller tree while making your bows and are you exercising the bow after each wood removal?
 To find any unseen splinters wipe the entire bow with a cotton ball, braced and unbraced. The least little splinter will grab the cotton.

[Pat B.]

Pat, thats a nice tip, thanks !

[LittleBen]

Originally posted by Pat B.:
Pat, thats a nice tip, thanks !

X2. I've been just usin my finger as a splinter tester but the cotton is a great idea

[takefive]

I'm with you there, John.  Tough to concentrate and draw it all the way to your anchor point if you're worrying about the bow breaking. I've only had one raise a splinter while I was drawing it back and it made a faint "tick" sound.  I had about 40 arrows thru it.  I CA glued it down, but it still worried me so I glued cherry bark over the entire back.  So far so good, and I'm with Mike in that listening closely is a good idea.  I also check the back and belly every few arrows when I'm shooting one for the first time.  I like Pat's idea of using a cotton ball and per Al, I'm going to buy safety glasses.  Come to think of it, I have an old catcher's mask and chest protector around here somewhere, but I guess I'd have to change my anchor then.    

[Pat B]

Not my idea but I'll take the credit. d;^)

[Zradix]

all good ideas guys thanks.

I do use safety glasses for a few shots.
The cotton ball is a cool idea.

My prob is most the bows have broke after a few hundred shots.

I really appreciate the help.

[takefive]

"My experience is if the back is in fine shape on a bow after several hundred shots, it will remain in fine shape indefinitely."
-Paul Comstock from TBB1
That gives me a lot of comfort.  Really hope he's right.  

[Wolftrail]

Originally posted by takefive:
"My experience is if the back is in fine shape on a bow after several hundred shots, it will remain in fine shape indefinitely."
-Paul Comstock from TBB1
That gives me a lot of comfort.  Really hope he's right.      

What if it lifts a splinter after 75 shots or develops a serious crack that cannot be fixed.
I usually back the bow now, I may give it away in the future and this is added insurance that it won't explode in my face or someone else. Nothing wrong with backing..!  But then again I'm making board & laminate bows.  OK I'm just been a Scaredy Cat...!!!        :eek:  

If I ever build a nice Selfbow I can see how it could be a shame to cover it up.