Author Topic: Yew Madness  (Read 1158 times)

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Offline Del the cat

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    • Derek Hutchison Native Wood Self Bows
Yew Madness
« on: April 13, 2013, 08:21:18 am »
I've been working a horribly S shaped stave and was trying to put a reflex kick into one limb to match the other. I messed up, for all the usual reasons (impatience, should have used steam or a load of oil and gone slower)
Anyhow a big crack opened up right across the belly about 1/4" deep. >:(
Next morning it's still clamped up so I doused it with low viscosity superglue, unclamped it and braced it.
I've since tillered it back to over 70# at 28" !!! :o
It's an ugly stave but I reckon it's earned the right to shoot some arrows :)
Because it's in compression I figured it should be ok in theory, but I was half expecting it to explode, so i went at it in a cavalier manner.
Gotta admire what Yew can put up with!
Short vid clip here... I warn you she's damn ugly!
http://bowyersdiary.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/experimenting-with-cracked-bow.html
Here's a pic of the crack! :o
It's so big I was thinking of offering helicopter rides around inside it ::)
Del
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Offline dwardo

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Re: Yew Madness
« Reply #1 on: April 13, 2013, 08:49:09 am »
Crikey Dell, nawt but good intentions holding that together  :o

Offline MWirwicki

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  • The wood speaks to you; Listen with your eyes. GSD
Re: Yew Madness
« Reply #2 on: April 13, 2013, 08:54:56 am »
Del like you said, that is damned ugly!  I've had very similar successes with superglue on the compression side using osage.  Gotta love the stuff!  Congratulations on the fix.
Matt Wirwicki
Owosso, MI

Offline Del the cat

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    • Derek Hutchison Native Wood Self Bows
Re: Yew Madness
« Reply #3 on: April 13, 2013, 09:56:36 am »
I've found that when it's unstrung the crack opens up, so I'll do a belly patch on it now that I know it will actually pull up to 70#
Del
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