Two big booms

[PeteC]

Thought I'd share these with y'all.I have'nt broke one in a couple of years ,but here are 2 back to back explosions. Both broke on the tiller board while micro-tweaking the tiller.The reflexed piece broke at 25"about 55#,the straight one broke a few minutes ago at 26" at 58#.I was already shooting these and the tiller was right on with both. They were both tension failures. Both broke in very clean areas,with no knots,or trouble spots. My only guess is that they were too dry.I suspected as much with the reflexed piece,because even after being worked to 26",it had lost no reflex at all during tillering and shoot-in.The snakey piece that broke today had set about 5/8" and was being exercised to 27".I guess last summers drought brought more consequences than expected. .You just never know.The first six  built from this same batch of osage made bows.  God Bless

[rossfactor]

Thats tough Pete.

I guess it can happen to anybody.

I do remember Tim Baker mentioning that Osage get brittle in dry climates (more severely than other woods do).

Gabe

[Del the cat]

Two in a row, man that's though.
You are going to be as jittery as hell next time you get the next one on the tiller.
Maybe give yourself an easy one to get back on the horse, something long and floppy .
Del

[bubby]

that's ruff, guess it can happen to anyone, Bub

[lesken2011]

Gosh, Pete. I hate to see that. Glad to hear you got some good ones out of the batch first, though.

[half eye]

wood has a way of lettin ya know who's boss, eh? sorry ya lost yer work into them, but I do have to say that one is a right proper 'splosion   You'll get 'em next time!!!!
rich

[mullet]

That's tough, just happened to me, too. Put them on the saw and make a takedown bow out of them.

[Josh]

That's tough, just happened to me, too. Put them on the saw and make a takedown bow out of them.

I was just about to suggest the same thing... but wait til it gets a little less dry outside first!  Sorry to see that Pete. 

[M-P]

My condolences Pete.    I like the takedown idea.  You've still got two good limbs!    Ron

[Josh]

...or a z splice if you don't want to make a takedown! Just cut off the broken limbs leaving the handles full length and make a 4" z splice and you are back in business! 

[soy]

  now you got em out of the way onward. And upward

[PeteC]

Thanks fellas.  Usually,in my part of the state,East Texas,I never have to worry about wood getting too dry.It's usually just the opposite,but that drought last summer was very different. Both of these pieces were 66" tip to tip,with  short handle sections,and a lot of working limb.       Del,you're right ,I was already jittery from the first one going off the other day.   Rich,they were both pretty loud when they gave out,Kaboom!      Eddie,I may look at splicing them and give it another try.If they'll hold together it will be one very fast bow.Both of these were screamers on their own. God bless

[toomanyknots]

I would probably guess too dry also. That is some wicked snake in that one. Sucks that it broke.

[Pappy]

 Sorry that's to bad,looks dry but hard to tell from the pictures, to wet is always the problem here in Tennessee. Take down is a good option,been there /done that. Also I have added a wet rag or small bucket of water to my hot box if I fear things are getting to dry.
   Pappy

[Jude]

Thats a couple of tough breaks there    I like the takedown idea though.  Just the opposite of what I had happen last spring.  Too humid and two of my bows failed in compression the same day.