boaed bow breakage

[okiecountryboy]

hey all
I'm new to this forum and have a question.
I've just started trying my hand at making bows.I have tried to start simple with redoak bb's. My first 2 attempts have ended in failure. I am already addicted, but let down. One snapped mid-limb, the other broke at the fade. Niether were too thin. The 1st...I wasn't paying enough attention to the grain when bought, the 2nd had great grain. I only have a jig saw a few rasps and a mouse sander. The going is long and hard and to have them snap is a real let down..
Any comments

[robtattoo]

A few pics of the leftovers may give us a few clues as to what went wrong.
There's a thread a little further down the page titled 'So you want to build a bow' (Or something similar) that is a spectacularly good buildalong guide to making a red oak board bow. Have a looksee.....

Oh and Welcome to the Forum!  :D  

[R.W.]

As Robtattoo says.

Check out 4est Trekker's "So you wanna build a bow" build-a-long. It is an excellent guide to ending up with a good self/board bow.

R.W.

[Eric Krewson]

Make yourself a tillering gizmo.

http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=125;t=001047

[Roy from Pa]

Nice tool Eric. I tapered mine years ago.

[walkabout]

i agree pics will help but im guessing bad grain or sharp corners are the culprits. reading the post these fellows mentioned will help in those areas. it really is a foolproof buildalong. did you back the bows with anything?if so what did you use. some stuff will overpower the wood causing it to split.

[Eric Krewson]

Looks great Roy! I have given away around 150 gizmos so far, been a tough road getting people to accept one as a better way to mark stiff spots in a limb but they are finally catching on.

Okie, with a gizmo, used properly, you will never put undue stress in an isolated part of a limb which could cause a failure.