Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: rmhaas2211 on April 18, 2020, 06:34:37 pm

Title: Osage Crack - Newb Help
Post by: rmhaas2211 on April 18, 2020, 06:34:37 pm
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

Title: Re: Osage Crack - Newb Help
Post by: bassman on April 18, 2020, 06:39:49 pm
No sweat. Use crazy glue to fill the cracks, and build the bow.
Title: Re: Osage Crack - Newb Help
Post by: BowEd on April 18, 2020, 06:40:11 pm
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.
Title: Re: Osage Crack - Newb Help
Post by: bjrogg on April 18, 2020, 06:57:01 pm
Agreed. Looks like a drying check. It shouldn’t be a concern unless it runs off the edge in a bending area.
Bjrogg
Title: Re: Osage Crack - Newb Help
Post by: Eric Krewson on April 18, 2020, 07:01:40 pm
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.
Title: Re: Osage Crack - Newb Help
Post by: George Tsoukalas on April 18, 2020, 08:12:50 pm
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
Title: Re: Osage Crack - Newb Help
Post by: rmhaas2211 on April 18, 2020, 08:40:49 pm
Appreciate the help - super glue it is!
Title: Re: Osage Crack - Newb Help
Post by: JW_Halverson on April 18, 2020, 08:47:11 pm
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!
Title: Re: Osage Crack - Newb Help
Post by: bownarra on April 19, 2020, 12:15:07 am
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 ;)
Title: Re: Osage Crack - Newb Help
Post by: Eric Krewson on April 19, 2020, 07:40:00 am
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.
Title: Re: Osage Crack - Newb Help
Post by: sleek on April 19, 2020, 11:52:11 am
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.
Title: Re: Osage Crack - Newb Help
Post by: rmhaas2211 on April 19, 2020, 07:58:55 pm
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
Title: Re: Osage Crack - Newb Help
Post by: sleek on April 19, 2020, 08:18:26 pm
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.
Title: Re: Osage Crack - Newb Help
Post by: Eric Krewson on April 20, 2020, 07:27:44 am
That belly crack could be bad business, it looks like you cut through some snaky grain.
Title: Re: Osage Crack - Newb Help
Post by: rmhaas2211 on April 21, 2020, 07:24:07 pm
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

Title: Re: Osage Crack - Newb Help
Post by: George Tsoukalas on April 21, 2020, 07:52:55 pm
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