My first real hunting bow given to me by my Dad some 45 years ago is in need of some TLC. Beginning with a cracked tip overlay that I need to file off & replace. What hardware store glue do you recommend? I also have in my shop some Brownells Acra-glas epoxy.

Gel super glue should work fine for replacing the tip overlays. What do you plan to use for the overlay?

I second the super glue.

I may find some micarta and do a couple of layers with that along with some kind of hardwood. I'd have thought super-glue would be somewhat brittle after curing. Gel or regular?

Gel is better, it has some gap filling.

Gel is better, it has some gap filling.

The Gorilla brand super glue is really good get the one with the blue top it says impact resistant. It is the best of the super glues I have ever used.

Second with the Gorilla high impact , blue cap.
Never lost an overlay using it and have used it since it first came out.
Do not over use but on tips I use two fine lines down each side of the overlay and across each end
Then clamp and let set an hour.

God bless, Steve

I've never had good luck keeping Gorilla super glue from hardening in the container after opening. I rarely get a second use from it so I don't buy it any more. I've use most super glues from the cheapest to the more expensive and never had a glue failure.

The best deal I have found on super glue is at Wally World. The black tubes, 4 for $1.57.

James

You have to buy the big bottles so there is air in there to keep it from going bad.X2 on blue cap Gorilla glue.

Pat,

Buy the big bottles of super glue and store it upside down, it works for all glues.  It is the same method I use for storing tongue & tru oil.  The air in the bottle will cure a layer of the glue, but everything below it will be fine.  Also, squeezing all the air from the bottle before putting the cap on help keep the glue from curing.

I had a series of glass bows a few years back that had problems with the overlays when using super glue, both thin and gel types. I started making the phenolic and wood thinner and went to smooth-on and haven't had any issues since.  I never had any problems using super glue with big horn sheep, antelope, or bison horns, just phenolic and wood.  I used Zap-a-Gap super glue for years and never had a single issue, unfortunately it is no longer available.

Walt, I do that with Tru-Oil. I've never had the hardening problem with any other super glue except the Gorilla brand.

I have gone completely to smooth on but used to use super glue and never had a failure from gel. I just don't like how it looks vs smooth on.