Just completed making this bow 2 days ago and have probably shot about 60 arrows out of it. Today i strung the bow and did short draws as i usually do when I string any selfbow to work the limbs. I brought the bow to full draw and heard a crack sound come from the lower limb   :( . Not really sure what happened or why. My draw is 31.5" but I made the bow 74" long to help with my long draw. The bow is made from red oak and the grain did look good. It pulled 42# at 28". I backed the bow with brown paper bag which I think kept the bow from exploding. Any advice for future bow projects would be much appreciated.
Here are some pics of the crack
 









The crack is right where the camera case is

Get yourself some Osage. I know how you feel about the broken bow, has happened to me a few times also.

I know osage would be better. Do you think maple would be better than red oak, it's readily available at lowes and cheap.

It broke along a grain line at a run off. Fill it with super glue and clamp it until it cures then put a wrap(sinew is best but thread will work) over the splinter.

in the 3rd pic it looks like the crack is across from the run out... is it just me?


-hov

It happens.  So now you have a good reason to make another.  For oak boards, linen makes a great backing and so does rawhide.  You can get linen from rudder bow (at least I did once) and if you want some rawhide let me know I got some deer rawhide I'll send you.

Mike thanks for the offer, but I dont need the rawhide. I do think I will back the next one with linen.
Thanks everyone for the info.

wood type wont matter, osage or not, with the possible exception of hickory.I agree with Pat B, its a run up on the grain. Have to be picky when choosing boards. Maple is a great choice for boards.
Dont get discouraged.
Merry Christmas,
Jeff

Yes, the rain is not good. It is running off to the side. Board bow info on my site. You can use osage but you must lay out the bow following that lateral gain anyway or you will have the same problem. Also, see bow layout on my site. JawgeJawge

http://georgeandjoni.home.comcast.net/~georgeandjoni/