Longbow help

[CurtisJohnson]

I have had this longbow a really long time, and it has had this gap since I bought it. The wood lifted up and left a small gap on the back of the bow. I filled it with wood glue and checked it hadn't ruined the bows tiller, which it hadn't and have fired it ever since without problem. My question is, is this safe to use and are there any other precautions I should take to reduce chances of any other damage?
If anyone could let me know how to upload an image I will show you guys :/

Curtis

 

[Rumcelt]

Hi Curtis

What type of wood is the bow made of?
Is it varnished?
What is the draw length and weight?
If it is not varnished then the old boys used to use bees wax and rub it in, as some woods do tend to split out when slightly damp from the air like on damp days, I think hickory wood can be like that, I know my bows feel a little ruff on damp days and that is the hickory wood.

Hope this helps

Reg
Rum

 

[CurtisJohnson]

Hi Curtis

What type of wood is the bow made of?
Is it varnished?
What is the draw length and weight?
If it is not varnished then the old boys used to use bees wax and rub it in, as some woods do tend to split out when slightly damp from the air like on damp days, I think hickory wood can be like that, I know my bows feel a little ruff on damp days and that is the hickory wood.

Hope this helps

Reg
Rum

Hi rum,

It's a lemonwood, purple heart and hickory longbow at 38lbs at 29" and I do think it's varnished :/ to be fair, the man I bought it off ( my uncle ) had kept it in a garage for about a year so maybe that's it?

Curtis

 

[dwardo]

Glue does not like moisture at all which is a real downside of Lam bows.
Picture tells a thousand words but if it isnt getting worse then it "should" be ok,

 

[CurtisJohnson]

To be honest with you, I'm just gonna keep using it and for £60 pounds (Bargain ) I can afford to keep using it and just be careful and have fun. it isn't affecting performance so I'll just use it.
Cheers for the help guys
Curtis

 

[Rumcelt]

Curtis

I would suggest when you have strung the bow take 2 or 3 mints to keep drawing the bow half way to worm it up less lightly to split or were a batsman helmet .
(don't loos the bow with no arrow on the knock, as bow could shatter)

Reg
Rum

 

[mountainm]

If you aint using it in tournaments put a silk backing on it - then if it does break at any point it won't be catastrophic.

 

[Rumcelt]

What type of glue do u use to a fix the silk to the bow?

 

[dwardo]

I use wood glue thinned with water. You still have to make sure you seal it well afterwards, with poly or something simliar.
some pics of the process here. http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=87278&page=2

 

[gan_pi]

I'd agree with mountainm, some backing, perhaps a wrap of some form will mean that when (it is a longbow afterall) it breaks it's less likely to spin around and take your front teeth out. saw that happen at the range when an aly riser broke, the limb to rotated nicely into the gent's face. he lost one tooth and like most head injuries what looked like alot of blood

warming up the bow & trying to ensure temperature and humidity don't change too quickly are wise precautions.

till then, happy shooting