Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: rmhaas2211 on April 18, 2020, 06:34:37 pm
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I am building a 64" longbow out of osage. I have the back down to one ring already, but have noticed some very slight cracking on the back of the bow. I don't have many rings to play with - so wanted to throw this past you guys to see if this is going to be an issue. The site wasn't letting me upload the files - so here are links to images of the cracks I am talking about:
https://ibb.co/nwgnrXT
https://ibb.co/55W41MM
https://ibb.co/7kxstNV
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No sweat. Use crazy glue to fill the cracks, and build the bow.
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That should'nt be any problem safety wise.It might close shut on it's own otherwise thin super glue.As long as it does'nt run to the edge of the bow.It should'nt migrate at all either with bending.You should'nt even notice it after you finish it either cosmetically.
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Agreed. Looks like a drying check. It shouldn’t be a concern unless it runs off the edge in a bending area.
Bjrogg
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The two bottom pictures are of wind shakes, no problem, fill all of them with superglue, don't try to clamp them closed, proceed like they aren't there.
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I still have an osage bow filled with those shakes practically tip to tip. What I did was draw knifed as many as I could out, super glued and and clamped the rest and made a nice bow. Jawge
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Appreciate the help - super glue it is!
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This is a case where you can ignore the the advice of the incredible bowyers that have answered your question. So long as the crack does not start heading for the edge of the bow, it has ZERO effect on the performance and longevity of the bow.
But if it is close to the edge of the bow and even hints that it wants to sneak off, drown it in superglue!
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I would have to point out that they won't have ZERO effect....in a humid climate moisture can get into them....other than that no problem ;)
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I guess it depends on the kind of finish you put on your bow, once the crack is filled and sanded to the back of the bow it isn't a crack anymore. In a place like the pacific northwest I would use the Massey finish on any bow I made, that stuff is impervious to moisture.
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Those cracks can come and go with humidity. I'd not worry about it in the least. Just don't let them run off the edge of the bow.
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This is a case where you can ignore the the advice of the incredible bowyers that have answered your question. So long as the crack does not start heading for the edge of the bow, it has ZERO effect on the performance and longevity of the bow.
But if it is close to the edge of the bow and even hints that it wants to sneak off, drown it in superglue!
Actually I have a decent one on the belly as well - and it does appear to want to snake off the bow somewhat. Picture links below. I suspect this one will need to be super glued?
https://ibb.co/WVqSXWn
https://ibb.co/QKGkVyL
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Hold off to see if they get removed as you tiller. If you have it at brace, yes they look bad right now. You should consider a way to lay out the bow so that one crack that leads to a knot is completely removed from the bow.
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That belly crack could be bad business, it looks like you cut through some snaky grain.
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So I did some more work on it tonight and shot a video. Looks like this belly crack goes through the entire width of the blow (currently around 3/4 thick). See video below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-fjMi_HYyg&feature=youtu.be
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It doesn't look like a beginner's stave. Perhaps you should set that one aside until you get some experience.
I had a stave with worse cracks and got a good shooting bow out of it. I filled them with superglue and clamped them overnight.
It does look like you cut through some snaky grain like Eric said.
Check this.
http://traditionalarchery101.com/layout.html
Jawge