Creaking white oak

[Hrothgar]

This white oak stave was cut and sealed a year and a half ago. I brought it inside in December and within a couple weeks it took 2" of recurve set. I know white oak takes longer to cure out due to the cell tyloses, but I thought I was safe. A waited another month then got it to dimensions, put a string on it and after it getting it to pull about 8" the first cracking sounds started, with no visible damaged. So after two more weeks I added a backing of linen and now have it creaking evenly to 20". There are some slight visible longitudinal (?) lines visible mostly on the belly. I'm thinking I will wrap artificial sinew around the limbs in 5" or 6" spacings and hope everything holds together. The first two pictures show before and after backing strip is applied; the next two are belly shots of each limb.
All advice is welcome. The design and dimensions are based on the original Sudbury Wampanoag bow.

[wizardgoat]

I'd drop some thin superglue in those cracks. I've seen lots of bows with cracks in the belly going with the grain. If they don't go off the edge you should be fine.
Honestly if it was me, I'd probably just grab another piece of wood, but I have lots.
Any sound coming from a wood bow can't be a good thing

[Hrothgar]

wizardgoat, thanks for the advice. Most of the cracks are lines rather than actual cracks. I probably should scrap it, but its nearly done and I tend to be stubborn.

[George Tsoukalas]

Those ticking sounds  as you draw are never good. When I've heard it on my bows the sound has been caused sometimes by chrysalls on the belly, sometimes by the formation of splinters on the back and sometimes problems with the side of the bow.

It is always good to locate the source so you can fix it.

Jawge

[Carson (CMB)]

In the picture of the back before applying linen, it looks like cambium remnants are left on the back. Sometimes these want to pop off/and or lift. They don't pose any problem, but should be scraped off. That could potentially account for small amounts of cracking/creaking sounds. Hope it is nothing major.

From the belly, it looks like maybe a high crowned stave from a small diam. tree, but pictures of back look relatively flat backed. If the crown is high, maybe consider decrowning.

[mikekeswick]

Could it be anything on your tillering tree?

[Hrothgar]

Carson-- it could be the cambium, unfortunately its now covered with linen.

Mike--at first I was hoping it might be the tillering tree, but the creaking is only coming from one limb now.

Jawge--although the lines are most visible on the belly side, they tend to peter out on the back side. On a positive note the lines don't run off the edges and don't extent the entire length of the limb.

Just wondering: normally I apply backing with TBII, but since I was out, opted intead for 'Gorilla Glue'.
Has anyone else experienced cracking sounds with it?

[PatM]

Gorilla glue that foams up? I think that stuff would do that.

[George Tsoukalas]

Those lines don't bother me. Backing caused creaking should eventually stop. Jawge

[Hrothgar]

PatM, no, Gorilla wood glue in a squeeze bottle. It does look, smell and dry differently than TB.

[crooketarrow]

  Those cracking sounds are wood sells seperating and rubbing against each other at stress points.

  Any sounds from your bow arn't good. I'd grab another stave and start over.