First bow explosion! Am i a bowyer now?

Forwardhandle · January 17, 2018, 05:14:00 AM

Very nice John I like the Sudbury handle look it has a sexy profile !

John Malone · January 17, 2018, 07:12:00 PM

Well guys she is my first blow up. It was going very well. I decided to go a lil heavy would have ended up 55+ when finished. Made a longbow stringer but one end was well back from the tip so it wouldn't hinder sliding the string up and while pulling it up POW she split faster than ya buddies when the police show up. Also right at the ends of the glued on riser I could see dark spots where the oil had seeped in. So the glue up was compromised some how in this area. I'm thinking I got to close with the heat gun when treating the back. Which I didn't apply much heat it didn't even change color much. While heat treating I put a one inch block under the handle area and clamped the tips down to remove the set while I was at it. It was only 3/4 of an inch of set maybe that stress while heating was my down fall I don't know. I also may not have turned the heat in the shop up enough while the riser glue up was curing?
However there was some spooky looking discoloration in the handle area it was a small area but two different colors in red oak isn't good. With anything else I could have just hid it but now I know it cant handle stress. It was in the exact area were one end of the split is. So I don't know which or which ones of these could have caused this poor creatures horrific and tragic death But whatever it was I should have known better so we learned a few things.
1. Always check temperatures when doing glue ups over night = DUUHH
2. Never use a longbow stinger until ya ask a pro how to use it proper like = DUUHH
3. Never get a heat gun close to tb2 glued joint = DUHH
4. When a nice looking board starts showing signs of potential issues with structural integrity when yo cut into it scrap it and move on = DUUHHH

Only one thing to do now fellows, ive got a 70 inch piece of hickory out there were gona make us a bow!

John Malone · January 17, 2018, 07:31:00 PM

Think I'm going the same layout with the hickory really liked it, start tonight.

skeaterbait · January 17, 2018, 08:20:00 PM

Wakes you up when they snap, don't it?

Bvas · January 17, 2018, 08:27:00 PM

I think ya got that backwards. Successes make you a bowyer. Explosions just keep ya humble.

I think you have the skills and know how to build some nice bows. Ya just need to sloooow down. Enjoy the build and don't be in such a hurry to get to the finish line.

Roy from Pa · January 17, 2018, 08:41:00 PM

Sorry about that, John. It happens, just smile and start another.

I always use a stringer that has leather cups on each end that fit over the tips.

January 17, 2018, 09:14:00 PM

I broke my first 8 bows... I was using the wrong adhesive... Did not know about EA-40 back then...
IT was very discouraging but I did not let it beat me...

John Malone · January 17, 2018, 09:42:00 PM

Thanks Roy, glued my riser on the Hickory in the house. Going to make a new stringer tonight like you're talking about got plenty of leather.
Shredd, ive never had an issue with tight bond. I went through the things that i could blame it own but im going to call this operator eror and blame the bowyer.
Bvas, I had plenty of time just wasn't paying attention to the details so your probably right. Some one told me you couldn't be successful till ya broke a few. Maybe because the lessons we learn the hard way stick with us.

John Malone · January 17, 2018, 09:44:00 PM

QuoteOriginally posted by skeaterbait:
Wakes you up when they snap, don't it?

"White men cant jump' oh yea we can!

Roy from Pa · January 17, 2018, 09:54:00 PM

Bet ya got skid marks in your bvd's too..

John Malone · January 17, 2018, 09:55:00 PM

QuoteOriginally posted by Roy from Pa:
Bet ya got skid marks in your bvd's too..

Nope I decided to go commando today. Camo pants so I'm good.

Pat B · January 17, 2018, 10:42:00 PM

If you ain't breaking 'em you ain't making 'em.
Study the break and determine why? you can learn a lot from a broken bow.

John Malone · January 17, 2018, 11:07:00 PM

I didn't put that much heat to it but after studying it the inside was sorta dry almost crumbly only in a very small section. ive seen that before working with red oak. The only thing noticeable from the out side was some slight discoloration. I'm thinking bad board but I prefer to blame myself. Keeps me sharp and humble to.

Roy from Pa · January 18, 2018, 05:00:00 AM

Did you have the edges rounded over well? Seemed like in the pictures they were barely rounded over.

John Malone · January 18, 2018, 08:12:00 AM

Roy about usual on the corners, maybe I should ad that to my list.

Roy from Pa · January 18, 2018, 08:19:00 AM

This is how a cross section of my bows looks.

John Malone · January 18, 2018, 08:21:00 AM

Mine are nowhere near that.

Roy from Pa · January 18, 2018, 08:24:00 AM

Yours appear to be like this.

John Malone · January 18, 2018, 08:28:00 AM

Exactly I was getting ready to post a pic.

Roy from Pa · January 18, 2018, 08:30:00 AM

Rasp the edges at a 45 on the blue lines, then round off the 8 edges that you get from doing that.