« Last post by sleek on December 05, 2025, 05:50:13 pm »
Those cracks are likely from the stave getting wet in the rain then drying out again. Id ignore them and press on. Have you heat treated the bow yet? Id fill the cracks with epoxy or superglue, but not until the heat treatment is finished, if you are going to.
« Last post by Selfbowman on December 05, 2025, 04:39:57 pm »
Ok update. The bow has taken on cracks long ways . I sealed the back with true oil because it’s finished . I checked the moisture it was at 10% . What is ideal moisture content for BL? It’s 45@ 23” right now. No sign of set or frets yet. Should I let it set for a couple weeks and keep weighing it?
« Last post by WhistlingBadger on December 05, 2025, 02:30:21 pm »
Yeah, I think anybody who has ever cooked a pot-roast, had the gristle render down to gelatine, then had a little bit of that gelatine dry on a utensil or counter top knows exactly how hide glue was invented. Once someone figured that out with mammal gristle, it wouldn't be a huge leap to fish bladders.
Now, the first person who ever milked a cow? That dude just didn't have both oars in the water.
« Last post by bentstick54 on December 05, 2025, 01:20:58 pm »
Watching closely. I’ve only tried black locust once and turned out to be a bad log that had a lot of punky wood inside that I could not get past. Hoping to learn some more from your experience.