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Author Topic: I Broke One Today  (Read 4889 times)

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Offline Drewster

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I Broke One Today
« on: June 25, 2015, 04:16:41 pm »
I was shooting in my first Mollegabet and it broke just before I got to full draw this afternoon.  It is also my first bow made of black locust, so it's a bummer for sure.  If any of you experiences guys can help determine what might have caused this, I would appreciate it.  Don't want to make this mistake again if possible.

I had shot it about 30 times starting at half draw and gradually increasing my draw length.  When it broke I was probably at about 26" or 27".  I had not gotten to full draw......my 29 1/2" or so.  Maybe about 27" a few times on the tiller board.  I had gotten this bow braced and drawing to 25" @ 45# more quickly than I usually do so had not exercised the limbs as many times as I normally do.  The back was smooth from my scraper but I had not done the final sanding yet.  I'm wondering if either of these two factors contributed to the break or just my bad luck on this one?

Thanks for any help or feedback you might have.







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Drew - Boone, NC

Offline alwayslookin

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Re: I Broke One Today
« Reply #1 on: June 25, 2015, 04:22:40 pm »
That stinks man. Everyone breaks some though. Did you chase a ring on it? How thick was the ring? I've never used black locust before. It broke clean looks like maybe a weak spot there. Do you have a picture of drawn?
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Offline PEARL DRUMS

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Re: I Broke One Today
« Reply #2 on: June 25, 2015, 04:25:27 pm »
That's a clean tension shear Id say, don't know why. Kind of opposite of what locust will typically do. It will compress and fret first because its generally mean in tension.
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Offline Spotted Dog

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Re: I Broke One Today
« Reply #3 on: June 25, 2015, 04:27:51 pm »
 Man that sucks. I guess that's why I like white wood , cause no ring to chase. I blew up an
Osage not long ago. It was my first Osage. Limb broke like yours.
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Offline huisme

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Re: I Broke One Today
« Reply #4 on: June 25, 2015, 04:58:58 pm »
Quote from: PEARL DRUMS on June 25, 2015, 04:25:27 pm
That's a clean tension shear Id say, don't know why. Kind of opposite of what locust will typically do. It will compress and fret first because its generally mean in tension.

+1. The only tension failure I've had with locust was due to a cut pin knot/ring violation.
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50#@26"
Black locust. Black locust everywhere.
Mollegabets all day long.
Might as well make them short, save some wood to keep warm.

Offline half eye

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Re: I Broke One Today
« Reply #5 on: June 25, 2015, 04:59:39 pm »
Mr. Drewster,
       Sent ya an email bud.....you was about 5-10 scrapes (outer half of @ working limb) from a killer bow.....just a bit too much force at the grip fade. Get ahold of me ....maybe I can get you a chunk of ironwood.
rich
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Offline bow101

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Re: I Broke One Today
« Reply #6 on: June 25, 2015, 05:03:56 pm »
Transition into the fade is the same thickness.  This has happened a few times to me, it became overly stressed in that area.   Thats my 2 bits worth.
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Offline Drewster

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Re: I Broke One Today
« Reply #7 on: June 25, 2015, 05:23:32 pm »
Alwayslookin, yes I had removed the sapwood and chased a ring for the back.  It looked good. 

Half eye, thanks, I'll be in touch.

I'll be better tuned in to tillering the next one.  Live and learn.   Thanks everyone for the feedback......most helpful.
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Drew - Boone, NC

Offline TolkienFan

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Re: I Broke One Today
« Reply #8 on: June 25, 2015, 06:18:14 pm »
Sorry man, I broke one last week in the exact same spot. It hurts.
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Offline Badger

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Re: I Broke One Today
« Reply #9 on: June 25, 2015, 06:49:51 pm »
 Did the bow show any signs of chrysaling before it broke. You might be able to still see them.
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Offline bushboy

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Re: I Broke One Today
« Reply #10 on: June 25, 2015, 07:15:00 pm »
Clean tension break,fungus maybe?I think folks follow the bibles by getting them to bend to much in the inners to a fault.that's my take anyways.it goes against Tim bakers mantra,witch I believe to be the grail in wooden bows!
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Offline Drewster

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Re: I Broke One Today
« Reply #11 on: June 25, 2015, 07:37:46 pm »
Badger, no signs of chrysals at all.
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Drew - Boone, NC

Offline Ryan C

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Re: I Broke One Today
« Reply #12 on: June 25, 2015, 07:53:37 pm »
Just use Osage haha. That shouldn't have broke if your back was clean and it was long enough.
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Offline Pat B

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Re: I Broke One Today
« Reply #13 on: June 25, 2015, 07:53:57 pm »
Locust is very strong in tension. It could be fungus although locust is pretty fungal resistant but there is one around that causes the rings to delaminate. I've seen lots of whitewood break like that but not woods like locust, osage or mulberry.
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Offline Drewster

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Re: I Broke One Today
« Reply #14 on: June 25, 2015, 09:48:30 pm »
Pat B, can you see the fungus in locust?  Since this is the first locust I have tried to make a bow with, I'm not familiar with what fungus infested locust looks like.  The break was a huge surprise for sure.  The tiller was not perfect.  I was still fine tuning a bit but I certainly didn't think it was off enough to cause this type explosion.

Sure appreciate everyone's help.
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Drew - Boone, NC
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