Bow Repair Question (pictures added)

[rileyconcrete]

Well I went camping this weekend.  We were gone from camp and I left my bow in the tent.  My dads dog worked her way in the tent, destroyed my arrows, and chewed on the lower nock end of my bow. 

The bow is a BW selfbow.  My question is, can I cut say an inch off the lower limb cut new nocks and retiller the lower limb?  The layout of the bow is center of the handle is center of the bow. I thought I read somewhere that the bottom limb can be shorter.

Thanks for your comments in advance. No pictures because the camera is broken. Sorry.

Tell

[Del the cat]

Don't saw any off!
We really need pics, but the extreme tip doesn't take a lot of force as there is very little leverage. You can probably fill any gouges with sawdust & epox mix and reshape the nock. Or fill first then rasp down the back at the very tip and add an overlay.
I repeat DON'T saw off the tip.
Del

[Slackbunny]

 A picture is worth a thousand words. Did they really chew the crap out of it and make it unrecognizeable, or is it mainly just cosmetic damage like teeth marks? You might be able to just sand or rasp the teeth marks out without altering the tiller noticeably.

[rileyconcrete]

There are alot of teeth marks and they are deep.  Mostly right at the nock.  I am mostly worried of lifting a splinter on the back.  I will see if I can get pictures from my phone to post here.

Tell

[PEARL DRUMS]

WOW. I love dogs....................but...................Good luck with your repair, hope all works out.

[rileyconcrete]

  I will try and see if these pictures will post. Sorry they are not the best but that is all I have right now.

[Del the cat]

The big dark streak on this one was all rot, filled with Yew dust and epoxy. Mix it drier than you think, as when its compressed in it the epoxy soaks in.
If you pick out any damage, maybe open everal small holes into one biger clean one and then. Once the holes and marks are filled you can re-shape and put on an overlay.
Hmmm, I'm repeating myself... but only 'cos I'm right 

this is it before filling. It had a Waterbuffalo horn overlay added to finish it.

Del

[rileyconcrete]

Thanks Del.  That is what I will probably do.  What kind of epoxy do you use?  Would TB3 work?  It seems to be very strong.

Tell

[Del the cat]

I use a 10 minute epoxy '151' brand (I don't use Araldite Rapid' I think it's horrible stuff). Dunno how Tb would be with sawdust.
Adhesive instructions always make me laugh...
How long does it take for 10 minute Epoxy to go off?
Half an hour of course!
Presumably 1 hour epoxy takes 2 or 3?
I usually pull my bench light down close to anything I'm gluing an let the extra warmth help it cure (I keep a fillamnt bulb in it not one of those compact flourescents).
Putting some pvc tape over the epoxy and a bit of rubber strapping wrapped tight can help keep it compressed and in place while it cures too.
Del

[gstoneberg]

Tell, I would not use TB3 or the other wood glues like it, they can shrink as they dry and may take a couple applications to get what you want.  I use either super glue and sawdust or epoxy and sawdust.  Sears used to sell a filled epoxy that was great in these applications, but it was dark gray and looked bad on a bow.  If the spot on the bow is going to bend, I use epoxy and sawdust.  If it isn't going to bend I normally use super glue and sawdust.  However, the color is not going to match perfectly, even if you use sawdust for the bow you're fixing.  Not sure why that is.

Good luck,
George