Hi everyone - its been a while since I posted - but have been a regular lurker on Primitive Archer for a number of years. I recently got the bow building bug again after a bit of a hiatus - it is quite an obsession that tends to get in the way of things - but its so addictive. Anyways, I am based in England at the moment - and was lucky enough to pick up a bandsaw and a belt sander the cheap and find a bunch of ipe boards - so I have glued up three now.
I used west system - with the 403 microfibers or two of them - and then bought the G-flex to try. I used to build epoxy-wood boats - so I have my hours up when it comes to epoxy!
Anyways, cut a long story short - my first bow was 68 inches and about 45 pounds and developed a bit of a compression fracture right at the fade. It did have a "power lam" - between the bamboo and the handle. With hindsight there was a slight hinge there that I think was the result of me trying to "blend" the glued on handle fades to the belly.
I decided to cut the bow in half and shorten it by 7 inches and re-glue it with a "scarf" joint so that the compression fracture was in the non-bending handle. I figured I could have it a little lighter and shorter and the wife would enjoy it!
Well... I have now completed finishing my second handle - right up to the point where there are nicely blended "fades" - and I have noticed that the handle and belly are coming apart. I added some acetone to clean some ink off where I had been tillering and it followed a capillary action up under the handle highlighting this quite nicely. The first handle I managed to catch before catastrophe when I heard it pop.
I have attached a few pictures. Bow is now 35 pounds at 26 inches.
I am wondering whether ...
1) GFlex not as good as everyone says it is.
2) When I thin and blend the fades, I create too much movement and that is when the problem starts. I guess I could glue on an ugly "square ended" handle with a more abrupt fade that won't flex?
Any thoughts on how to fix this...
Debating wrapping some fiberglass and epoxy
![awe (A)](http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/Smileys/default/pa_awe.gif)
around the fades and then hiding it under some colored serving thread... I know I know its not "pure" but would rather save the bow and have an archery companion to "self-isolate" with...
I fear if I re-glue a handle it will happen again ... OR... is this a problem specific to me trying to blend the fades and not having a power lam? I used to be ambivalent about "power lams" - but this has me thinking they are worth it...
![](https://7600230-646359173733290791.preview.editmysite.com/uploads/7/6/0/0/7600230/kimmy-bow-bbi_orig.jpg)
![](https://7600230-646359173733290791.preview.editmysite.com/uploads/7/6/0/0/7600230/kimmy-bow-crack-handle_orig.jpg)
![](https://7600230-646359173733290791.preview.editmysite.com/uploads/7/6/0/0/7600230/kimmy-bow-handle_orig.jpg)