Laminate Recurve bow repairable???

[Suffolksteve]

Hi all,

recently I have had some success with Freecycle and thought I had struck gold when I picked up a 36lb Recurve bow which seems about the right size for me. It didn't have a string but on a bit of flexing it made some loud snapping like noises. On further inspection I see it has delaminated in a couple of places.

I am trying to upload some pics but am struggling.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/82938611@N08/7593163972/in/photostream

http://www.flickr.com/photos/82938611@N08/7593165684/in/photostream

http://www.flickr.com/photos/82938611@N08/7593160866/in/photostream

Basically, is it repairable? Money being tight I can't afford to buy a bow, so it will either be fix this and use it or don't do any archery. If It is beyond repair or far to dangerous I want to know but what I would love someone to say is, yeah, just use some strong glue and that should be fine.

Thanks

Steve

 

[pete920598]

hi...10 yrs north wales champ target archer here... sounds like limbs are u/s what make are they, what riser is it.

not like long bows cant really be repaired

 

[Ogri the trog]

Hmm doubtful guess from me too!

As a long time British Long Bow Society member and one time repairer of aircraft fibreglass components.

It looks like some moisture has got under the protective varnish and into the wood riser and limbs - after that, it is entirely likely that the bow has been "over-drawn" and lifted the fibreglass laminates away from the substrate and riser wood.

In all honesty there is very little that can be done to recover it as a whole - but saying that, there would be little to be lost in trying - if you consider that it is pretty much 100% broken now. Try gently sanding off the varnish to expose the fibreglass edges and then maybe try to inject epoxy resin into the de-laminated areas again by gently opening the voids and using a hypodermic needle.

If it works (and I cannot guarantee that it will), the draw weight will drop slightly and the draw length will be reduced and it won't last for-ever, but it might get you out of a tight spot for a few months.

ATB

Ogri the trog

 

[Suffolksteve]

Thanks guys.

I will give it a go then but I won't expect to enter the olympics with it!