2023 Bow Swap Progress Thread - Complete

[stickmonkey]

Looking good!

[Crooked Stic]

Here you go good looking sweet shooter.

[John Scifres]

Here's Chapter 3 of my swap bow.  Refining the Form and SHOOT-IN.  This is getting GOOD!

[Crooked Stic]

Here ya go well made sweet shooter'
https://youtube.com/shorts/8p5pXL6QkHk?feature=share

[Roy from Pa]

Nice work John and Mike..

[rainman]

Antler tip overlays put on today, another hour if scraping.

[Appalachian Hillbilly]

Passed the table top test! Both limbs must set flat with no rock. Setup is square, flat and ready to profile this week.

[kennym]

Lookin good!!

[Jon Lipovac]

Looking for advise as I decide how to fix this.

The bow I made for Stic started to show some cracks in the riser within a week of him receiving it. It’s got small hairline cracks, one on the top and one on the bottom limb pad. Both go through a pin location hole.

It’s highly figured walnut that has been stabilized, so I do not believe it is shrinking.

My thoughts are to mill out the cracks underneath the limb and fill the side cracks with thin CA. Then cap the limb pads with either stabilized straight grain walnut, a walnut veneer with clear glass, or .031 black G10.

I’m open to opinions and suggestions as I don’t want to do this twice.
Thanks in advance.

[Crooked Stic]

Whatever you do to try and fix the cracks and I have done it with water thin CA . I think a composite pad cap needs to be on there also. And am interested to see other suggestions.

[Appalachian Hillbilly]

I would definitely cap the pads. I believe that adds a lot of strength to that area. I cap all of mine now out of fear for that very thing

[Nicholi]

Everyone is looking great! Kid is now 6 weeks old so I am ready to get back to building!

[Bryan Adolphe]

Oh Jon that’s a bummer such a nice riser to have things go sideways on ya. Good luck with the fix. 

[Noah70]

That’s very unfortunate and strange (considering it’s stabilized) on a beautiful piece of work.
I always install a limb pad liner, often several layers, using it as an opportunity to add additional accents.
I would tape the side cracks to prevent outflow, mill open the crack on the pad top a very small amount (just enough to pool the glue), and pour in some extra thin CA. It’s as thin or thinner than water.  It will penetrate right through to the sides and bottom.  Then pull the alignment pins, sand the limb pad, and add on a liner, the G10 would work great.  If you shape the liner to match the limb pad and the limb butt end exactly, you may get away with not having to refinish the entire riser.   Judging by the quality of work you do, it should work out beautifully.
Attached is a picture of a similar piece of figured Claro Walnut with grain also sweeping up into the limb pad, and the liner .
Best luck!
Regards, Noah

[Crooked Stic]

Another thing I have found about stabilizing walnut that it needs to soak a long time to gain much weight. Witch to me being walnut porus should soak more 

[Jon Lipovac]

Beautiful work Noah!

Thanks to everyone for the comments.

This is what I decided to do, which is really inline with most of the suggestions. It really is not rocket science. Just simple structural practice.

Pulled the pins. Sanded all the finish off the area to be repaired, blew out the cracks, super thin CA the whole limb pad and sides to rejection.
Milled the alignment holes in .031 black G10, 80grit prepped the G10, used past wax on the limbs and bolt for a release agent, used Huntsman epoxy on the G10 and bolted the limbs on tight and clamped.

I’ll simply reshape the riser with limbs attached and refinish.

I’d be pretty shocked if it has an issue moving forward.

Lesson learned.

[Crooked Stic]

That should be good. G10 should keep it stable

[Jon Lipovac]

I’m gonna clean it up now and take it to a shoot tomorrow and see how she holds up. I’ll easily run a hundred arrows through it at 31”.

If it holds up like expected, I’ll get it refinished and back to Mike next week.

[Kirkll]

Whatever you do to try and fix the cracks and I have done it with water thin CA . I think a composite pad cap needs to be on there also. And am interested to see other suggestions.

Running phenolic on the limb pads is the only way to go. I do it on all my TD bows.
Cap it first, then fill with thin CA.   


Didn’t see you last post…. That should work just fine.   

[stickmonkey]

All of the bows look awesome!! I have been struggling a bit getting a set of limbs in the correct weight since it’s a new form. After chatting with Stic I think I am on the right track and should have a good set soon.