The Heart breaker

[Pat B]

It's odd to see a clear osage stave break across the back. Any indications why it broke?

[dragonman]

Commiserations Pete, looks like you really went for it there, pity it broke, must have been those extreme recurves dont you think over stressing the limbs?

[PeteC]

I can't find any good reason this thing broke.I've pushed wood very hard before with no problems,and yes it was very clean,and had a beautiful near circular tiller.The whole limb,(working area),was sharing the bend,and there was no torque in the area ,and I was at the point of long stroking it to finish up.I'm in east Texas,so the stave being too dry really is not a possibility.There had never been any heat applied to the area either.It's just like someone told me once."It's just a piece of wood".I guess that's how I'll have to take it.  God Bless

[Pappy]

Ya it happens,I hate it but you have to move on, It don't bother me much when I know it is something I did wrong,and learn something but for no apparent reason bothers me more.What kind of rings did it have ?Thin or thick and how was the ratio between the winter and spring growth,
just curious.
   Pappy

[bowkee]

I like it when all show the breaks because it helps in Tillering and Choosing wood to work with.
 

[HatchA]

How come they never go bang at the start and save you the effort?
Del

Wouldn't teach you very much if they went boom in the early stages

[PeteC]

Pappy,it had rings averaging 1/8" in thickness,and the early /late ratio was about as good as I can find. God Bless

[PeteDavis]

Dangnacious. Reckon my turns comin'!

Make another the wood says!

PD

[Matthias Wiltschko]

Man, that hurts. Such a beautiful stave!
Looks like you made no mistake.
In order to save the bow, you could take of the cracked ring of the back, fill the crack if it goes deeper with superglue and put on some sinew.


Matthias

[PeteC]

Matthias,I sure considered all my options,but ,if I chased another ring it would have been way to thin,and as osage usually is,the rings were of un-even thickness. Thanks for the suggestion though. God Bless