Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: lesken2011 on February 18, 2013, 09:09:32 pm

Title: BANG!!!
Post by: lesken2011 on February 18, 2013, 09:09:32 pm
I got a few coats of shellac on the bbo I have been working on so it was ready for a handle. Yesterday I glued 4 or 5 strips of leather together to build up a handle and soaked them with super glue. I let them dry overnight and went out to shape them today. Once I got the handle sort of rounded I decided to shoot the bow a few times to see how it felt. When I got it to about 2/3  full draw....BANG! I thought it broke since it was very loud. As it turns out, two of the leather layers popped apart. I thought I noticed that the super glue had made them awfully stiff. I guess the bend in the handle was too much for them. Whew!!

I decided to try something different. I had recently purchased some cork. I got some rolls of thin cork from the craft store and also a couple of packs of cork coasters. They were about 1/16 in thick and 4 in square. I cut some up, glued them together with thick superglue and shaped them on the belt sander before I glued them on. They were really easy compared to rawhide and leather that I have used in the past.

My question is this. What do I need to help the longevity of the cork. Can I seal it with something that will help it last?
Title: Re: BANG!!!
Post by: Carson (CMB) on February 18, 2013, 09:26:38 pm
I use cork to build up my handles and to make stand-alone handle wraps.  I shape it with a sharp knife to avoid tear outs, then coat with thinned Titebond III. After it is dry I sand it down, and coat it again with titebond 3.  I thin the TB3 so that it penetrates a bit more than it would otherwise.  After it si dry, I finish it with the same finish the bow gets, usually shellac and lindseed oil.   Hope that helps and glad that was all the bang was :)
Title: Re: BANG!!!
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on February 18, 2013, 09:29:38 pm
Carson that is as good as stolen my friend. Very cool handle.
Title: Re: BANG!!!
Post by: lesken2011 on February 18, 2013, 09:40:40 pm
Thanks Carson. I should have thought of that!!
Title: Re: BANG!!!
Post by: Gordon on February 18, 2013, 10:46:58 pm
That definitely sounds like too much bend in the handle. When I make a bendy handle bow I make it so I can barely feel the handle bend.
Title: Re: BANG!!!
Post by: lesken2011 on February 18, 2013, 11:21:20 pm
I barely feel it bend at full draw, Gordon. The handle are has some reflex when unstrung and that is the way i glued it up. The leather was thin pieces glued together and fully saturated with thin superglue. When I took the leather off it was as hard as a brick. I guess it wouldn't bend at all.
Title: Re: BANG!!!
Post by: Gordon on February 19, 2013, 02:45:01 am
Oh okay. If the leather ended up that inflexible, then that would certainly be a problem.