I have an issue with a knot in my trade bow for =&. I've shot it about 1000 times and it has a crack in the top limb running accros the limb, but confined to two small pin knots. If this bot was for me, I'd shoot it with a wrap around the knot, but I want to use the knit as an excuse to try a dutchman plug. Has anyone here tried one. What do they look like. I've seen one in "The Bowyers Craft" but none in color. Any pics would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks.

Oh yeah that will definitely work. Sorry no pics

We still plannin on the takin the boys turkey huntin this weeken Chris? Thanks for all you help too.

I honestly have never seen one Dave, but if you do end up doing that please post your pics. I'd be very interested in seeing that.

I will SEMO. Basically you drill a hole the size of the problem knot and then cut or make a plug of the same wood with the end grain of a piece and then gleu it in place of the hole. I've seen pictures and read about it and have never seen one or heard of anyone doing it.

QuoteOriginally posted by vanillabear?:
Here is a link with some good info. Not sure if it's what you're looking for or not.....
  http://www.bowyersedge.com/patch.html  

That's awesome info, but a very ballsy undertaking. I don't know if I could maintain my composure long enough to make a repair like that.

If you drilled out a knot on the ring side and replaced it with a plug like Dave was talking about, wouldn't it still be a major ring violation and be prone to split in that area anyway? Or would the glue somewhat "Sear" the area surrounding the plug to keep a split or check from forming?
I suppose you could drench the wood fibers inside the plug hole with super glue, then glue the plug in?

That is very similiar vannilabear. Only my fix would go through the back fibers of the bow. There are pictures of one in the book "The Bowyers Craft" by Jay Massey.

This is the area that has me asking.

Man, if you could cut out a tear drop shaped piece that would fit right in between where the grain turns each direction, that would look really good. I could really see that happening, but it would probably be dremel work and not just a simple drill bit hole. I believe that if you can put a plug right in between the grain there, it would last for years to come. Maybe paint an eyeball on the plug? Maybe a Snake Eye!    

Hi DVSHUNTER,
do a net search Dean Torges patch a bow limb. Lots of pix. good luck Crg

Load it up with super glue and if you are still worried rawhide back it. osage is tough stuff. d;^)  Those are drying checks(checks) just like in a stave.

Here's a couple I've done using Dean's directions.

 

 

The key's are a good gap filling glue(URAC), and to not clamp the plug in place, no matter how hard it is to believe that a clamp isn't needed.  

Every patch I've clamped has failed.  Most that I haven't have been good.

nosage- those look nice. Vanilla bear posted that link for me, but that won't fix my issue. My cracks are in knots and only on the back of the bow. The idea of a dutchman plug is to remove a knot from the limb rather than replacing a failed section. By keeping the hole size comfined to the knot, or knots in my case, you minimize grain violation. With the back plug grain violation isn't an issue.  

what kind of wood is that green plug?

nosage- those look nice. Vanilla bear posted that link for me, but that won't fix my issue. My cracks are in knots and only on the back of the bow. The idea of a dutchman plug is to remove a knot from the limb rather than replacing a failed section. By keeping the hole size comfined to the knot, or knots in my case, you minimize grain violation. With the back plug grain violation isn't an issue.  

what kind of wood is that green plug?

Drill the knots out and replace them with hardwood dowels.  It's really as simple as that.  I have done it many times but don't have any pics for you.

The green is a bamboo backed osage bow, osage patch.

Thought you were talking about the belly.