You'd think I never built a bow before....

[jsweka]

Man did I screw up yesterday!            

I was gluing up what was supposed to be a reverse handle hill style bow.  Things were going well.  Got everything laid up, bolted my form together, put the air to it and put it in the hot box.  As I was cleaning the glue mess up, I saw the wooden blocks that I screw to the sides of my form to keep the lams from slipping when the hose is inflated just sitting on the workbench.  OH CRAP!!!!  I couldn't believe I forgot them.  So I quickly pull the form back out of the hot box and sure enough the lams slid around and everything was off center.  So I deflate the hose, take the top of the form off, and use a quick clamp to squeeze everything back into place (all the lams were still taped down to the bottom part of the form).  

Then I noticed that my tin strip was underneath the plastic wrap instead of on top of it.  I dang near glued my tin strip to the bow too!!!!!! So I pulled off the plastic wrap, pulled off the tin strip, and wiped off all the smooth-on that squeezed onto the tin strip.  If you think smooth-on is messy when putting a bow in a form, taking a form apart with fresh smooth-on soaked plastic wrap is a whole new experience.

I get everything put back together in the appropriate way, like I've done dozens of times before, and hoped it would all be OK.  Back in the hot box to cook.

When it came out, everything looked fine and I went on with my usual shaping.  I got the limbs ground to shape and cut the string grooves.  After the second set of string grooves, I pealed some of the masking tape back getting ready to glue on some tip overlays.  Then I noticed that the glass at the end of the limb, beyond my string grooves, didn't look like it was glued to the bamboo lamination underneath.  I put my fingernail under it to see for sure and with very little pressure, the glass started pealing away from the bamboo lam underneath.

AH CRAP!!!!!!!!!!!  Well, it was screwed now and I was ticked off, so I pulled on it and it separated with no effort at all for about 10 inches or so down the limb.

   


The only thing I can think was that inflating the air hose, deflating it, pushing the lams back in place, and then inflating the hose again squeezed too much smooth on out and I didn't get a good bond.

I suppose I could try to grind off the glass that separated and add a new piece, but I now don't trust any of the other glue joints in this bow.  I'll save it for a fire poker.

The only good thing was that I noticed the problem before I strung it for the first time.  That could have resulted in a screw up that literally came back to bite me.

               

[Pago]

Condolences....I can empathize.

[Carpdaddy]

Sorry to hear that, I feel the same way after my last one, like I never done it before. I blame mine on old age! Wish you could have saved the bow.

[BenM]

Bummer that sucks

[Roy from Pa]

AH.. That's ah dog gone shame.....  

[jess stuart]

I really feel bad for you.  I have some idea of how you feel I have put tapered lams in backwards (think end toward the tip).  That made for a weird looking strung profile.

[goobersan]

That's a Bummer      
Sorry to hear that happend

[bigbob2]

Feel the hurt John. I think most of us could relate a similar story so you're not alone!!!

[jsweka]

I really don't know what to blame it on.  It wasn't a turkey comma or an excess of malt beverages, because I glued it up first thing in the morning before the Thanksgiving eating and drinking started.  Just got careless I guess  

[Roy from Pa]

Well that explains it.  Ya didn't have any of that rot gut stuff in your system.

[Yewbender]

John, sorry to hear about that. I started reading your post and was like, don't tell me you put the handle on the wrong side which you were joking about when i talked to you. Well, i hope everything goes well on the next attempt cause i really want to shoot it, who knows if i like it you might have to build me one! By the way just in case move the beer fridge out of your shop lol!

Shortly i'll be heading to Perry co for a week of buck/bear hunting with the longbows!!! Good luck hunting John!...Gary

[kennym]

Dang John, hate that!

I've always worried about letting the pressure off to align things after you get it up close to full pressure.

[canopyboy]

Originally posted by bigbob2:
Feel the hurt John. I think most of us could relate a similar story so you're not alone!!!

Exactly!

And like Roybert said, you were being kinda careless putting together a glue up with no beer in the tank!

[rockkiller]

You are probably saved time and if you where going to use a new piece of glass,you saved that also.
I tried to save one that I had already had the limbs shaped last year.I did everything I could thing of to keep the limbs from twisting once it went back in the hot box.
It came out like a airplane propeller.  :biglaugh:o

[jsweka]

Originally posted by Yewbender:
... I started reading your post and was like, don't tell me you put the handle on the wrong side which you were joking about when i talked to you. ...

That thing did kind of mess with my mind before it died.  I kept grabbing it like a typical riser bow and then realizing I was holding it backward.  I did get the string grove angle going the right way.  Checked, double checked, and triple checked that.  But I didn't get to the point of cutting the shelf.

So I have now added two bowyery rules:
1.  Don't deflate and re-inflate the hose thinking you can correct an error.  Do it right the first time.

2. Don't work on a bow without drinking a beer or two first.  It will slow you down so you don't overlook the little things.

[Mark Smeltzer]

I feel for ya. I have made every stupid  mistake possible.  Ohhh Geeeze  I just jinxed myself I'm sure there are more I can make.

[passion for knowledge]

The ones that break definitely hurt, but the pain goes away when you shoot the ones that don't!

[Monte71]

Hi Yewbender. Im new on TG and couldn't figure out DM. My name's Monte from N.E. Philadelphia. I was communicating with Evan and was told to reach out to you. Im new to Traditional Shooting and was trying to get active with meeting new Tradional Archers. Im only shooting at about 8 yards and just working on form. Everything I've learned so far was books and videos. I shoot everyday. Love it. I have a 58" Bear Recurve at #45 lbs. I need work but I'm dedicated and patient. I'm 51 and have been hunting since I've been 12 here in Pa and my background was always CP. Done with that about 2 years ago and picked up my recurve in late summer and started to buy things from 3rivers for it. I made every mistake possible until I figured it out with either time n money or both lol.
Well new on here and thought I'd say hello since Evan mentioned you were from Montgomery. Hope to hear from you and enjoy your weekend.
Monte

[Buggs]

Monte71, you must be the undertaker, cause you had to exhume this thread

[Monte71]

Lol. Just want a show what a newbie can do lol