Boo backed Ipe (not for BOM)

[Justin Snyder]

Justin, the splinter started just off the end of a power lam and stoped about an inch short of a node. The bamboo edges were trapped slightly and then smoothed so there were no sharp corners.  I'll post some pictures later.

I figured you had it good, I just wanted to know exactly how you did it. I do it different than most.
I don't know what caused it for sure, but I have had similar issues with boo and hickory. It seems as though I had it bending well, then when I transitioned to non bending I think it was too abrupt of a change. It was like the boo was still trying to bend, but the belly didn't want to so it popped. I decided it was putting too much stress on the fulcrum point. Of course, just because I decided that was my problem doesn't make it so.  

[Gordon]

It's possible that's what happened Justin, but I'm careful to make the limbs bend through the powerlam transition right up to the fade.  Maybe there was a weak spot in the backing at the point of failure - I don't know.

Keenan, I think I'll grind off the backing and replace it with a strip of Tonkin bamboo. I hear that stuff is pretty tough. I hope so...

[Okie]

That is a gorgeous bow Gordon. I'm sorry to hear about the boo failure. I have had my run with bad luck here lately also. I'm doing the same thing you are and ordering some more boo... from a different source.

[Marc St Louis]

It's possible that's what happened Justin, but I'm careful to make the limbs bend through the powerlam transition right up to the fade.  Maybe there was a weak spot in the backing at the point of failure - I don't know.

Keenan, I think I'll grind off the backing and replace it with a strip of Tonkin bamboo. I hear that stuff is pretty tough. I hope so...

You would think.  I had a Tonkin backing fail on me a few years ago, the belly was IPE

[medicinewheel]

Gordon I'm so sorry to hear about the failure!
It was such a beautiful bow!

[Gordon]

After taking off the existing backing I no longer think it was the bamboo that failed. It appears to have been a glue failure. I had the limb clamped at that spot so maybe I had it too tight and starved the joint. At any rate I have a piece of Tonkin worked down and ready to glue on. Hopefully I can salvage this bow.

[NTD]

I hope you can salvage it too.  What kind of glue did you use?

[Gordon]

I used Urac. I never had a problem with Urac before, but upon close inspection I'm fairly certain the failure resulted from a delamination.

[NTD]

Eww.  Sorry Gordon.  I've only done two laminates but have used TBIII.  Everytime shot them for the first few hundred shots I was paranoid about a delam explosion...

[Gordon]

Got her tillered today. I'm pleased with how she's turning out. The new bamboo is holding fine and the bow doesn't lose a bit of reflex after shooting.  This tonkin is pretty good stuff. Next up is a week of torture testing. If she makes it through that intact, we're good.

[medicinewheel]

Good to hear it worked out that way...

[Jesse]

Way to keep at it Gordon.