Two TD-ELB Stylish Bows - Not So Happy End (28.12.2017) - Addendum (05.01.2018)

[Lehtis]

To Hamish: See the earlier pics in the chain; rubber stripes used to to squeeze the glued billets. In the last gluing I didn´t sand the planed surfaces, which I usually do; only acetone wiping done. I may have also tightened the rubbers too tight in this case and all these together may explaing the failure.

Now the osage-bellied has just got leather over the handle. After final smoothing and oiling and yesterday´s shooting-in the string the scale shows now 80lbs@28" and 71lbs@26". Final pics later this week...

[Lehtis]

Hickory-Cumaru-Osage Orange "Xmas" Bow ready for action.

[Hamish]

Bow looks very professional. Nice work.

The de lam is a bit of a mystery. It sounds like you did everything pretty much well. I know plenty of guys that hand plane the surfaces and use unibond, no problems.
With rubber bands you won't have starved the glue joint, with excessive pressure. Sounds like it must have been an old batch of glue

[Lehtis]

Not so happy end: These bows really didn´t want to fly with me... :-(

Now that Osage-bellied one decided to explode this morning while shooting Flint Round. Looks like hickory backing gave up at brass ferrule joint where the growth ring has been violated. Got some 300 arrows shot before explosion.

Plan B in mind in case I want two bows in luggage or got to travel with ski bag and PVC pipe to carry solid longbows.

[ohma2]

Very sorry to see that,but i believe you called the problem correctly

[Hamish]

Sometimes things go wrong, even when they theoretically shouldn't. Lots have guys into bowmaking have been there too so we know your pain.
It could be a number of factors, as you have already mentioned, you definitely don't want a step in the backing near a ferrule. Shooting in extremely cold weather can be dangerous if the bow is not overbuilt. Draw weight increases but tension strength  doesn't.

 

[Badger]

   I think not sanding the surface was your problem. I haven't degreased anything in over 10 years. I like my surface sanded about 60 grit and then I just wipe off with a damp rag. I do this on ipe, bulletwood, and osage. You obviously know about violating the back now. Just out of curiosity would you mind taking the physical weight of these bows. I have been doing some 80# and 90# bows lately with similar designs but 1 piece.

[Lehtis]

Badger, I don´t have not weighed these two broken ones but I measured some other of my ELB stylish bows:

Hickory-Ipe-Osage Take-Down, 72,6", 78lbs@28", 910g (metallic connection pieces increase weight)
Bamboo-Ipe-Osage, 71,3", 79lbs, 680g (leather handle wrap removed and this one will be converted to TD soon)
Hickory-Ipe-Osage, 72", 78lbs, 750g
Bamboo-Ipe-Osage, 68,3", 83lbs, 670g
Bamboo-Ipe-Osage, 70,5", 70lbs, 640g

[Lehtis]

Due to failing with these two TD-bows I had to try to modify an older bow to TD as described in another chain:
http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,60847.0.html
Now I´ve got two bows for easier flight travelling.

Here´s the last message copied from that chain:

"Forced-to-Retire" Bamboo-Ipe-Osage reborn as a TD-bow (carriage bow) and back at work. That tiny starting splinter superglued and tied, TD-connectors installed and covered with leather and the bow TruOiled several times. Scale shows now 78lbs@28" and 73lbs@26". Some pics added; full draw as in the original full length format in the beginning of this chain.