Side of limb cracked--salvagable?

[RedBear1313]

Hi guys, been awhile since I've been in here.

Got this bow I'm working on, sinew backed Osage.

Developed a crack in the side of the limb while tillering, you think this will be detrimental or will the backing save it?

When it's done I plan to back with snakeskin. Was originally thinking of 50# tiller but maybe reconsidering.

Bow dimensions :56" ntn, 1 5/8" at handle center, 5/8" tips, 1 7/16" at flare where crack occured, crack is 17" from center.

Slight bend in the handle.

IMG_20190823_165423 by Timothy Burns, on Flickr
IMG_20190823_165420 by Timothy Burns, on Flickr
IMG_20190823_165414 by Timothy Burns, on Flickr
IMG_20190823_165424 by Timothy Burns, on Flickr
IMG_20190823_165513 by Timothy Burns, on Flickr
IMG_20190823_165525 by Timothy Burns, on Flickr
IMG_20190824_102307 by Timothy Burns, on Flickr

[Del the cat]

Hard to really know, sometimes I think you have to split it right out and then start from there, either gluing it back in and maybe binding, or cleaning out and letting in a patch.
the problem is, if you don't split it out you don't really know what's happening to the grain.

Osage isn't my thing, so hopefully there will be better informed suggestions.
Just thought I'd get the ball rolling.
Del

[Eric Krewson]

If you made those scalloped areas for decorative reasons, you violated the grain which caused the failure.

[Badger]

  I agree with Eric, if it is a bendy handle bow you won't need my width. Maybe you could just slightly narrow it and get rid of the crack, I would also get rid of the scallops.

[bradsmith2010]

I can't really tell...but what they say is good advice

[backtowood B2W]

If you want to support the hole do this kind of thing right beside of it and not that extreme.
I have seen some native bows with sides like this, was always wondering about it.
Form does not seem to follow function, but maybe I dismiss something...

[SLIMBOB]

Sometimes you try things just to see if it will work. I would never trust that bow again from what I see, but hard to really tell from the pics. Sinew won’t save it I don’t think.

[bradsmith2010]

I made one for someone that wanted a Native replica,,,but I used ash,,so I think a white wood might work better for something like that,, if I remember the Native bows with scallops were mostly white wood,, the bow I make worked fine,,

[SLIMBOB]

Badly Bent (Greg) made a number of them. Black Locust from memory.

[RedBear1313]

Yes the scallops at the top were for decoration, but the reason I came up with that design was to get around a knot down by the handle.

[RedBear1313]

A couple more for different detail


FB_IMG_1566695941690 by Timothy Burns, on Flickr

FB_IMG_1566695947317 by Timothy Burns, on Flickr
FB_IMG_1566695953451 by Timothy Burns, on Flickr

FB_IMG_1566695960258 by Timothy Burns, on Flickr

[George Tsoukalas]

I agree with Eric too. Jawge

[RedBear1313]

Ok it kinda seems as if you guys are thinking the crack is in the scallops down by the handle, it is not.

That area is fine and I did that to avoid a couple pin knots in that area, I just made them symmetrical for aesthetics.

This is where the crack is at, towards the top of the limb in the area outlined by pencil.

IMG_20190825_192919 by Timothy Burns, on Flickr

[SLIMBOB]

That’s what I saw. Seems that when the limb is stressed it will open up, separating ever farther until it tears out completely. Even a thread or sinew wrap is iffy, but worth a shot maybe.

[SLIMBOB]

Is there a chance you can take that protrusion off and eliminate the whole issue?