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Author Topic: Where do they break?  (Read 19070 times)

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Offline Del the cat

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Where do they break?
« on: January 30, 2014, 04:45:37 am »
There has been a spate of recent breakages at the club...
All on the upper limb.
Then I realised, I don't think I've ever seen lower limb go bang!
(Ok I had one with bug damage, but that's hardly fair)
Do bows always break on the upper limb? Discus...
Del
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Offline bubby

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Re: Where do they break?
« Reply #1 on: January 30, 2014, 05:23:36 am »
 I think all of mine break topside too del, may have had one break on the bottom
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Offline MrHare

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Re: Where do they break?
« Reply #2 on: January 30, 2014, 05:39:45 am »
I had a Samick SKB lower limb break, and 2 holmegaards (not made by me) develop scary looking hinges in the lower limb. I figured it was probably something I was doing wrong, but I've no idea what.
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Offline dwardo

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Re: Where do they break?
« Reply #3 on: January 30, 2014, 06:13:49 am »
Top limb for me every time.....  :o
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Offline SLIMBOB

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Re: Where do they break?
« Reply #4 on: January 30, 2014, 08:04:33 am »
Never gave it much thought, but always the top.  ??
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Offline PEARL DRUMS

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Re: Where do they break?
« Reply #5 on: January 30, 2014, 08:13:14 am »
Ive never had a bow break after its been shot several hundred times. My breaks happen at the build. The breaks I get can be explained. Its usually a bad spot I was worried about from the start.

As far as others having a lot of top limb breaks? I think most bowyers have a tendency to put the "better" limb on the bottom knowing it works slightly harder than the top in most situations. I know I build that way.
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Offline Marc St Louis

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Re: Where do they break?
« Reply #6 on: January 30, 2014, 08:24:48 am »
Positive tiller?
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Offline bigcountry

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Re: Where do they break?
« Reply #7 on: January 30, 2014, 09:17:57 am »
I agree, but isn't strange most bottom limbs take the most strain?
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Offline toomanyknots

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Re: Where do they break?
« Reply #8 on: January 30, 2014, 09:53:56 am »
Quote from: Marc St Louis on January 30, 2014, 08:24:48 am
Positive tiller?

If there is a reason for the tip limb breaking more often, that's what I would think.
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"The way of heaven is like the bending of a bow-
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 the lower part is raised up,
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 the part that has too little is increased."

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Offline artcher1

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Re: Where do they break?
« Reply #9 on: January 30, 2014, 09:58:58 am »
I remember posting this same question some years ago on the old PA board. Since day one, I've built my bows as they stand in the tree. And of all the stave bows that have broken, and there have been many, have done so on the upper limb. Only bow with a broken bottom limb was a billeted bow. That's the number one reason I prefer billeted bows built from the trunk of the tree.

Seems like the masters of old knew about uneven working properties and thus many of them compensated by using matching sister billets for there bows. More work, but greater rewards..........Art
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Offline Buckeye Guy

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Re: Where do they break?
« Reply #10 on: January 30, 2014, 10:24:36 am »
Can't help you on this one Del
On my bows the only thing that makes it the top limb is the way I pic it up that day !
Have fun
Guy
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Offline Marks

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Re: Where do they break?
« Reply #11 on: January 30, 2014, 10:42:11 am »
I've noticed in a lot of 'money shot' pictures that the upper limb seems to be pushed out in front of the bottom limb. Maybe the natural shape of your hand with the thumb on top cause you to push the upper limb harder than the bottom. I posted the December BOM thread. Not all look like this but #4, 5, 8,9, and 12 all look to me like the top limb is leading the bottom limb.  I also posted Slimbobs recent bow. Hope yall don't mind being used as an example. I'm new to this sport so I'll let yall confirm or debunk my theory.

http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,44457.0.html
http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,44825.0.html
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Offline George Tsoukalas

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Re: Where do they break?
« Reply #12 on: January 30, 2014, 10:46:22 am »
Mine mostly break in my cellar! :) Jawge
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Offline adb

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Re: Where do they break?
« Reply #13 on: January 30, 2014, 10:50:17 am »
Quote from: PEARL DRUMS on January 30, 2014, 08:13:14 am
Ive never had a bow break after its been shot several hundred times. My breaks happen at the build. The breaks I get can be explained. Its usually a bad spot I was worried about from the start.

As far as others having a lot of top limb breaks? I think most bowyers have a tendency to put the "better" limb on the bottom knowing it works slightly harder than the top in most situations. I know I build that way.

+1

In 10 years of bow making, I've never had one break in the hand. Plenty have exploded on the tiller tree, and some for no apparent reason.
« Last Edit: January 30, 2014, 10:54:41 am by adb »
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Offline George Tsoukalas

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Re: Where do they break?
« Reply #14 on: January 30, 2014, 10:51:17 am »
But seriously folks...
What PD and Art said.
I tiller from the middle on the rope and pulley. Then I check tiller in front of a mirror, with a digi pic or in front of a window at night.
Nothing approximates your hold.
I like the bottom tiller even or very slighty stiff by 1/4 inch at full draw. Don't much care about brace unless it is way off.
Jawge
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Set Happens!
If you ain't breakin' you ain't makin!
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