Fix for a crack?

[Mo_coon-catcher]

I've been working on a white ash molle style self bow and during the floor tillering a crack developed on a knot on the back. The crack is about 1/8 of an inch long and is perpendicular to the grain. I tried to take pics with my phone but they were too unclear to even see the crack. Is there any way of fixing this before it gets any worse? I have some sinew so I was thinking about filling the crack with glue and putting a layer or two of sinew on the back for protection. For glue I will be using knox gelatin. Do you think this would work? or do you think I should scrap this one and start on another? Thanks for any help and advice.

[Mark Anderson]

I would probably scrap it and start another. But if I just had to fix it I would get some crazy glue down into the crack and clamp it tight. The wrap it with sinew. Although a layer over the crack might work (as if you were backing it) I think wrapping around the limb would be best. I had a walnut bow do that to me and I fixed it with superglue and silk. My dad has used it for two years and has probably 1000 or more arrows through it with no problem.
By the way is mo- coon as in Missouri?
Mark

[mullet]

 You can wrap it with silk thread, small diameter hemp, nylon, rawhide or sinew. Then, if it was me, I'd soak the wrap in either TB3 or super glue. I prefer super glue for a trouble spot.

[Mo_coon-catcher]

Commadore- It sure does, from the north east in Macon county.     
I've got a piece of hickory shaved down and I'm about to shape out the bow but then I gotta wait for it to dry, so in the mean time I think I'll try wrapping it. When wrapping it with the sinew would I soak it and wrap it around the limb then cover it in super glue, or should I let it dry a bit then soak it in super glue?

[mullet]

 If I'm using sinew I soak it in water till it's soft and then TB3 and then wrap it.

[George Tsoukalas]

Are yo using a board? All designs in boards have a better chance of success if the stock is pristine. Now, I've never made a Mollie and don't have one planned but if I were to make one I'd make sure my stave was pretty clean as the area from fade to whatever you call that area that's narrow seems to be under inordinate stress. Shoot the area with superglue as Mullet suggests. Jawge

[sadiejane]

this may or may not apply to your bow.
had this osage bow that split very soon after getting started floor tillering.
filled the crack with super glue early on.
then once final tillering was done and i'd had a short string on it.
i "patched" like this
soaked and stretched the rawhide as much as i could, then sewn with real sinew.
sized the area the rawhide was going on with titebond II.
then used a bit more glue just like i was rawhide backing the bow.
let it sit for a cupla days and shot about 50 arrows thru it last nite.
(this bow shoots mighty nice)
seems to be holding up just fine.
the crack did not run out the side.
and was following the grain which also does not run out the side.
but the tips are narrow enough, felt like i wanted some extra insurance.
i think this will hold up as long as the bow.
it shrunk really tight.

dont have pix of the other side right now, but will take one if you like.
good luck