cracked glass

[Al Dean]

Here is a picture of a bow I made.  I probably shot 3000 arrows through it.  I sold it a few months back and the fellow has sent me pictures which I can't forward of length wise cracks in the limbs.  Long cracks through the bolt hole and down the limbs for 14-15 inches, 2 or 3 front and back.  Looks terrible.  He said he had the bow on the rack unstrung and when he strung it up it looked like this.  Question, is it something I did, bad glass or has the bow had a major trauma?  I see no delamination of the limb.

[kennym]

Hi Al,

Without seeing the bow ,I'd say one of 3 things..

1.  A dry fire

2. Tightening the bolts too tight

3.No finish in the bolt holes and the wedges drew moisture and swelled

Just guesses without seeing it and then you may not be sure...

[Al Dean]

If he sends the bow back I'll post pictures.  Finish in the bolt holes would only be what gets in them as I spray on finish, I don't purposely spray them full of finish.  I also asked what weight arrows he shot but he wouldn't say.  Hopefully I get the bow back to look at close up.

[kennym]

"asked what weight arrows he shot but he wouldn't say."

This would bother me a bit....

[LittleBen]

I agree with what's been said already. As an engineer I'd tend to say that rarely is a failure the result of one factor ... it's more liekly to be a few small contributing factors.

Bolts a bit too tight, moisture change, excessively light arrow, slightly longer draw etc.

[D]

As I was reading this I was thinking that well things just happen until I got to the part where he wouldn't tell you what weight arrow he was shooting.  Has the guy shot trad for a while, or has he just crossed over from compounds.  A lot of compound shooters like to shoot super lighter arrows so the can get all the FPS they can get.  That makes me wonder.  I hope it all works out for ya Al.