shoot THROUGH the center bow, now with complete build pics BROKEN/FIXED!!!

[sleek]

You're a crazy genius.

Your half right anyway...

[sleek]

The splice just barely touches the knot. The way the knot is naturally rounded on the corners and well formed. I left it thick and it bends after the knot. Im not worried. Good idea though.

[sleek]

Was showing my buddy the bow today and handed it to him to shoot. He was hitting bulls eye consistently. I told him how bad I was missing a demonstrated.  Haha darned if I couldnt miss either. I donk know what my problem wasnlast night but today I was on the money. Good feeling. May be hope yet.

By the way, I hear the arrow hit when I have a sloppy release. Gadda be careful and check my arrows after each shot. I will probably switch to bamboo shafts for durability and spine forgiveness.

[Del the cat]

That's just so cool... a little bit Henry Moore 
Del

[sleek]

That looks like a fancy thumb ring to me.... maybe next knot hole I get I will artistically carve in the form of feminine beauty....

[koan]

Man thats awsome! I would not have thought of using a scarf joint.. Impressive!.... Brian

[simson]

Awesome work, Sleek. I wouldn't trust that overlap splice, but it holds up obviously.

[Peacebow_Coos]

That's awesome, but borderline wheelie

[sleek]

Well fellas, it broke. But in an interesting spot and way.  First off, it opened up on the lower limb, not the upper so the knot hole is fine   from center of the bow, if you cut the lower limb in thirds, it broke on the inner third. Seems there is a small pin knot there. I heard it open up before it broke. It wasnt the normal tick sound of a splinter. It actually sounded like a piece of paper being torn. I couldnt find where the noise came from because I only looked around the hole. I dropped the brace height some as it was high anyay, and I drew it many more times and it was fine. Finally I took it an inch beyond my draw length and it went bang.

Looki g at the break, I see the sapwood is very spongy, as in porous. I never broke a sapwood back osage before. Actually, dont think I ever broke osage at all before. I think the pin knot ( which I don't think I violated ), spongy wood, shorter lower limb, extreemly dry air, and too high a brace height all made the perfect storm. Plan is now to cut the brokken billet off, regrind the scarf joint, and find another billet to splice on. In the meanwhile its going on the shelf to sit. I have many things to do right now.

[Del the cat]

Bwahhhhhh   
Good autopsy!... Maybe you can use the hole in another bow... just be careful where you store it
Del

[Pat B]

Will you post a pic or two of the break?

[sleek]

The break ran along the belly clear to my thumb on the limb. On the handle side of the break it went all the way to the fade. I cant find the belly piece that actually came off, it all came apart with gusto.

[sleek]

Spongy porous sapwood

[sleek]

Side view of the break. You can see where it started and how it spread out looking for a weak spot for the stresses to leave out of. Good to see the sapwood didnt delam. I do however have a high ring count on this wood. Very thin rings.

[sleek]

The back of the break. At my thumb is the tiny little pin knot. The break went almost straight across at that one spot.
I think the lesson here is, low brace height, trap the belly when running a high ring count or chase a ring to the heartwood, and thats all I can really think of. Anybody else? Pin knots are common in osage and I dont know what I could have done there.