Cracks when adding reflex

[Lee Lobbestael]

I just added some reflex to a Osage bow I'm tillering using dry heat last night. When I unclamped the bow I noticed a shallow crack going across the limb. I have had this happen before on other bows and it hasn't seemed to effect the bows performance. Have you guys had this happen? Did tho bow hold up? Thanks

[Hrothgar]

The first bow I reflexed was hackberry and in hindsight I left the limbs too thick when I heated and clamped. One tip had a similar crack going across the limb. I added superglue then removed quite a bit more wood until the crack was sanded out. To be safe I tightly wrapped the area with artifical sinew and then coated the sinew with more glue--did the same to other limb just so they looked the same. It has held up so far.

[Pappy]

On the back or belly of the bow ??
  Pappy

[Lee Lobbestael]

It's on the belly

[PatM]

Fairly common if you put too much pressure on the wood before the heat has  plasticised the wood sufficiently or too much heat is applied for too long.
  If you have sufficient thickness the crack may not extend that deeply and it may end up being scraped out.

[Lee Lobbestael]

Well I'm actually fairly close to final tiller. I Know this isn't the best point to add reflex but it actually seems to be holding. I was thinking of filling the crack with super glue sanding it smooth and calling it good

[PEARL DRUMS]

Fill it and go. Not too many options left Lee.

[missilemaster]

Ive had it happen before. Didn't seem to affect anything, the wood is under compression not tension there.

[Lee Lobbestael]

That was my thought (and hope) too missile master

[Eric Krewson]

I get cracks on the back occasionally when I correct with dry heat, always down the center of the limb and running longitudinally. I fill them with superglue and forget about them, I have never had one of these cracks cause a bow failure.

[osage outlaw]

I usually bend the tips with a little extra thickness.  If I get those cracks they don't go very deep.  When I thin the tips down they are removed.  I fill them with superglue anyway.

[Lee Lobbestael]

Good deal thanks guys

[PatM]

 These would be in the working limb and they technically would be just a step up from chrysals. You've got two ends of wood butting up against each other with little to no structure between them.
  Superglue isn't really doing that much except cosmetically.

[alwayslookin]

I got those on my last Osage bow hasn't affected it at all. It's from bending it too soon I believe like said before.

[simson]

As said fill the cracks with super glue. As Pat mentioned maybe to much stress and not enough heat - or too much heat.
I use paraffin oil for doing any heat gun jobs, corrcting or reflex/deflexing. The thing is I can simpley controll the temperatur on the wood, it's just the point when the oil begins to dampen.