Old BBOs?

[Matt Fowler]

I have 2 older bbos I want to try and shoot this off season. They're in great condition but have been wall hangers at my cabin for a few years(not strung). Cabins in north central PA so quite a bit of temp swing. Any precautions I should take? Also, I have a 31.5 in draw length. Thanks!

[Orion]

You might give them a coat or two of some kind of oil first -- linseed oil or Watco oil, etc.  However, you have a very long draw length. Unless the bows are very long, 68 inches or more, there's a good chance they'll break at 31 1/2 inches. 

[Pat B]

I would start out slowly maybe leaving at low brace for a day then full brace for a day before drawing them. Then only short draw them, gradually working out to full draw over a few days to reeducate the bow to bending. Do you know what glue was used in the glue up?

[Matt Fowler]

Negative on the glue, they are both 66in, not sure on the weights.

[Pat B]

Just go slow and steady as you reeducate the bow to bend and recover.

[Roy from Pa]

Matt, I used unibond 800 on them.
They should be fine but like Pat said, work into them slowly.
The 66 inches long will be fine for your draw.
I'd guess they are 45 to 50#.

Is the one from the guy who passed away?

[Matt Fowler]

Roy, yeah, one is from a good friend who passed and seems pretty stout, the other you made for me and is around 45lbs. Thanks all for the advice.

[Roy from Pa]

Ok I thought it was your friend I made it for.

[ron w]

let us know how you make out 

[Matt Fowler]

I’ve been gradually pulling them, got the lighter one back to full draw. The heavier ones seems to stack around 28in. Might try a few arras this weekend. I don’t have arrows below 55-60 but would just be blank bale shooting. We’ll see. I’d be sick if I broke one. They are sweet lookin sticks!!

[Matt Fowler]

Well, I’ve been shooting the heavier one. I’m trying to use wood arrows I have because of my draw length. I think I’m dialed in with spine, point weight, etc. but hear a slap occasionally. Are these bows that sensitive to release, shooting form?

[Orion]

They're certainly sensitive to a pluck or miss-spined arrow.  It likely has no arrow shelf or one that's cut quite proud of center. That makes it sensitive to a bad release as well as a miss-spined arrow.  A brace height that's too low can also cause the arrow to slap off the riser. 

Without knowing the draw weight at your draw length and the length and spine and point weight of the arrows you're currently shooting, it's not possible to make an accurate assessment.