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Author Topic: crack across knot  (Read 4903 times)

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Offline Lee Lobbestael

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crack across knot
« on: December 02, 2014, 07:04:40 am »
Hey guys. I'm finishing tillering an elm self bow and it has an exposed knot in the center of the top limb. It was actually a branch at one time. I trimmed it down short and a small crack formed during tillering. I sanded it down a little and the crack disappeared bu re-appeared as I finished the tiller. It is a tiny crack but extends past the knot on one side and is perpendicular to the grain. Sorry the picture wouldn't turn out on my phone camera. Can I patch it somehow?
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Offline Pat B

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Re: crack across knot
« Reply #1 on: December 02, 2014, 08:50:50 am »
Super glue!  The crack could have started as a check which is a common occurrence in knots. Is this crack on the back or belly?
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Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline PEARL DRUMS

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Re: crack across knot
« Reply #2 on: December 02, 2014, 08:54:33 am »
Super glue da-dah! Love that stuff.
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Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught will we realize we cannot eat money.

Offline Lee Lobbestael

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Re: crack across knot
« Reply #3 on: December 02, 2014, 09:14:04 am »
it is in the back
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Offline adb

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Re: crack across knot
« Reply #4 on: December 02, 2014, 10:48:01 am »
Bummer. Not a good thing unfortunately, especially the crack running across the grain. Like said, fill it with SG and just shoot it.
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Offline Lee Lobbestael

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Re: crack across knot
« Reply #5 on: December 02, 2014, 11:14:16 am »
Is it possible that the bow will hold together long term? Its my second elm bow and it seems to crack around knots a lot
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Offline JoJoDapyro

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Re: crack across knot
« Reply #6 on: December 02, 2014, 11:20:43 am »
And it is cracking against the grain? Have you heated the wood at all?
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If you always do what you always did you'll always get what you always got.
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Offline Lee Lobbestael

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Re: crack across knot
« Reply #7 on: December 02, 2014, 11:23:56 am »
yes I have heat treated it twice
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Offline adb

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Re: crack across knot
« Reply #8 on: December 02, 2014, 11:24:22 am »
Quote from: Lee Lobbestael on December 02, 2014, 11:14:16 am
Is it possible that the bow will hold together long term? Its my second elm bow and it seems to crack around knots a lot

Not likely. The crack will likely continue to grow and eventually fail. It might hold with CA glue, but I wouldn't trust it. Common in elm. I don't use elm much anymore as backing wood. It makes fine selfbows, but I've had bad luck using it as backing wood.
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Offline George Tsoukalas

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Re: crack across knot
« Reply #9 on: December 02, 2014, 11:35:47 am »
The way I handle knots is when tillering I want that area to not bend as much as the rest of the limb by just a little bit. I just want to take a little of the strain from that area.
Now I tell you ha, Lee. :)
Jawge
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Offline Lee Lobbestael

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Re: crack across knot
« Reply #10 on: December 02, 2014, 11:37:49 am »
Yeah thats what I should have done! So a sinew wrap over a rawhide patch or something like that won't hold it together?
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Offline PEARL DRUMS

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Re: crack across knot
« Reply #11 on: December 02, 2014, 11:41:22 am »
Wraps will never hold a tension issue. Tension pulls so a wrap around contains nothing. Post a picture before you call it dead.
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Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught will we realize we cannot eat money.

Offline Lee Lobbestael

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Re: crack across knot
« Reply #12 on: December 02, 2014, 12:52:35 pm »
Would a rawhide or linen patch hold it together?
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Offline PEARL DRUMS

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Re: crack across knot
« Reply #13 on: December 02, 2014, 01:03:20 pm »
Rawhide would work dandy, do the whole bow.
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Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught will we realize we cannot eat money.

Offline Lee Lobbestael

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Re: crack across knot
« Reply #14 on: December 02, 2014, 01:10:24 pm »
what about a rawhide patch with a snake skin over it so you don't see it?
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