Wall art or fixable?

[Dannon]

A local barber built this bow for me probably close to 20 years ago. I haven’t shot it in several years. I built a string for it this morning and decided I shoot it some and possibly hunt with it some this year. Well, that was until I noticed this. So do I hang it on the shop wall or can it possibly be fixed?

[Pat B]

What is the make up of the bow and what glue was used on it?

[Kirkll]

Ive seen very few bows that delaminate like that are repaired well enough to shoot again….

The question is…. Do you Glue it , clamp it, and hang it on the wall? Or try to shoot it and have it blow up….

I’d say your odds are like playing one number on the roulette table she will ever shoot again.  Are ya feeling lucky?       Kirk

[kennym]

There will be folks tell you super glue will fix anything, but I wouldn't shoot it myself.  There was a reason the glue failed and that reason is still there even with fresh glue squirted in there.

Helmet, goggles ,and a cup if you try her...

[Dannon]

What is the make up of the bow and what glue was used on it?

It’s a bamboo backed Osage. Not sure about the glue.

[Kirkll]

So this is a board bow? No glass backing? 20 years old is a crap shoot on what glue was used, but most guys building board bows used a hide glue or white glue. Some bowyers used urac 185 too….   I’d say 90 percent of board bows built that actually get used never make it 20 years.

I’d never use super glue on a lamination that will be flexed. The glue is too brittle and it will shear. I’d say your best shot would be thinned down Uni bond 800 if you want to try a repair. Use a little extra resin so you can pour it into the crack.

Good luck


   Kirk

[rainman]

A hole going all the way thru would be wall art for me.  I build bamboo backed almost exclusively. 

[Pat B]

If you can separate the back from the belly without damaging either and clean up the glue surfaces you can reglue with TBIII, Unibond or Urac. If noting else it would look better as a wall hanger glued back together.
 Even if the boo backing was no good the osage belly could be backed with another piece of boo, hickory, elm or hard maple.