I was just starting to practice yesterday, when on the 3rd shot - POW.

The string broke right at one of the nocking points as I was drawing back. Not quite to my full DL, but to at least 28".

I could only find one half of the string, and the arrow only went about 5 feet forward. I checked the limbs over quickly, but I had to get ready for work. Today I pulled out a new string that I had, and was getting ready to string it up, when I saw it.

The bow is a 62" Black Widow PSAX, with a ziricote riser. Is this riser trash ?

Other side.

Crack can easily be felt with a fingernail.

I couldn't say but in my opinion you should contact Roger, see what he says and the send the bow or the riser back to BW for repair.

OHHH man what a shame. I'm glad you didn't get hurt. I would contact Black Widow to get the correct answer to your question.

I would sure contact Roger before I messed with any home repair on that one.

I do plan on contacting Roger, but wanted some input beforehand. I did buy the bow used, but it was recently converted to a low grip by Black Widow prior to the sale.

Sorry to see that, glad you were ok. These skinny little FF strings make me nervous, could be for this reason, take care, hope it can be repaired.

That will be able to be repaired don't worry.

Has nothing to do with what string was on the bow. The old linen strings were as much low stretch as the modern strings and were used for decades. And, had they not bee so prone to breakage, they would probably still be an option for archers. Whatever happened was the bow's issue, not the string. This is the 21st century.

Where did he say he had a skinny string? Anyway, I thought a skinny string would cut the tip off not crack the riser. lol

Black widow will probably fix it for you. They are a great bunch of folks.

That's always scary when a string breaks! That's a pretty good crack from the dry fire caused by the string break. I don't think I'd trust that one even after a repair.

sorry Thats gotta hurt Hurts me and its not my bow!

I don't know how you could fix a crack like that running through both sides of the riser. If BW could fix it then I would be surprised. Maybe 2 steel pins from front to back might do it but I would see about getting another riser.

I had one develop a crack like that, they replaced it at no cost

they are great to deal with

mine was a one piece PTF

Here in WV we would wrap it with duct tape and keep going. LOL

Like others have suggested I'd contact BW & see what they say. Glad on one was injured.

No injuries, other than scaring me pretty good !

I had a used MA that was 10yrs old when a limb delaminated. Called Widow and they said send it to them. A few days later Mr. Beck called me and asked what weight do I want my new limbs. All I had to pay was the shipping.

Good thing that's a Widow!

Looks to me like it starts in the glue line. I would call Black Widow and see what they say.

Looks to me like it starts in the glue line. I would call Black Widow and see what they say.

Florida, maybe I missed something, but why did the string break? You must of broke the strands in the string by crimping the nock point to hard? Or was the string bad? If the string failed and caused the dry fire that cracked the handle, then it may not be covered by BW. Glad you are ok.

I'm hurt too just looking and thinking about this. Sorry dude this sux. I'd be sicker also.

My guess is they Black Widow will replace.

I'm with Jim -- what's the deal with the string? Was it old? Or did it get cut somehow by the crimped nock point?

The string came with the bow when I bought it, and it only had the 2 tie-on nock points that came with it. The original owner of the bow (his name is on it) makes strings for a living, and will add the tie-on nocks if requested. I have bought his strings in the past for other bows, and never had any problems. I now use the 2 tie-on nocks exclusively on all my bows, using Rick Barbee's method when I add them.

I've never had this problem with ANY string before this, but strings do get old, and should be replaced periodically.

I have emailed Black Widow, along with the same 2 pictures. I'm not blaming them, or the string maker. I just would like to be able to salvage this riser, as it has become a favorite of mine.

Thanks for all the input.

Really hope everything works out for you.

Scott,

Just an FYI

Strings don't break there often, but there are 3 common reason as to why they break there.

1 - arrow nocks to tight.

2 - double nock point to close together on the nock.

3 - when CA (super glue) is used to lock the nocking point into place, sometimes it will leach through the serving & onto the strands of the string. When that happens it hardens the strands, and they are going to break there sooner or later.

Rick

Who made the string?

Oh, and #4 - when using crimp on nocking points, sometimes they get crimped to tight. I forgot that one.

Rick

Rick,

Nocks weren't too tight - I was thinking about adding one wrap of floss. There was a bit of wiggle room between the two nock points, so I think that was OK too. I know about the crazy glue - I remember that from your excellent video - I hadn't put any on myself, but there could have been some on there previously.

I have omitted the string maker's name intentionally - I don't believe that is the cause, and don't want any finger pointing. It wasn't anyone who has posted in this thread. {8>)

Yea Scott, I knew it wasn't one of my strings. I just thought I would throw out that info for anyone who might need it.

I have however had 4 customer strings break right there, and one of those 4 reasons was the culprit every time. One customer broke two of them back to back after about 1000 shots each. Once we figured out what was going on he hasn't had a problem since.

Strings will break from time to time, but even the sorriest built strings from the sorriest materials will generally hold up quite a long time. Most of the time when they break there's an outside reason for it, and sometimes it's just cause they are old & brittle.

Rick

Rick, Any recommendation on a "time to change" strings ?

It's tough for me to keep an actual shot count tally - that seems to be how I've seen suggested before.

Scott, I recommend a string be changed every year & every two years at the longest. That said, in reality a well cared for & properly set up string can last many years.

Things to look for outside of normal wear & fuzzing.

I can only think of three at the moment.

(1) the obvious nicks or cuts to strands.

(2) and this is a big one that is more times then not overlooked. Pay attention to the area where the arrow is nocked onto the string. If the serving starts wearing enough that the nock starts fitting loosely, then it is time to reserve, and before a new serving is installed the strands of the string in that area need to be closely inspected. If those strands show signs of stress or wear THROW THAT STRING AWAY.

(3) when inspecting your string at the arrow nock area, look to see if it is staying fairly parallel there. If it ever starts to look like it is forming an hour glass figure, that means the strands are stretching & separating underneath the serving. Again in this case THROW THAT STRING AWAY.

Hope that helps.

Rick

DO NOT use those crappy metal crimp on nocking points! I have NEVER had a string break at that point in over 50 yrs of archery!

Ya know Florida, I make me a new string for each of my bows every year. Oh, and by the way, I have never had a string break in 43 years of shooting and I use those "crappy metal crimp on nocking points". I also keep a set up, shot in backup string ready for each bow. Best of luck! Jim :)

If BW can't fix it I'd pin it with threaded brass pins from Brownells. Thousands of gun stocks have been fixed with pins for eons.

I think BW will help you resolve the situation. They are an honorable company. You can dry fire bows all week and not get that riser crack....that is something a company like Black Widow would want to inspect and make sure it wasn't something in the design or that particular wood.

So sorry to hear this happened Scott. I bet you jumped! ;) I know I would have.

been using brass nock set for 30 years never damaged a string most time damage happens when removing brass nock or moving it nock pliers go to deep when spreading nock apart and smashing string or some one try's to push it up or down a little without loosening it all the way. sorry for your lose hope the can fix.

Let us knowwhat BW says. Good luck.

It's amazing what people will blame on "skinny strings". They are usually the same who will only use 14 strand Dacron that they "know for a fact" is stronger......when it actually isn't.....Whatever.

Skinny strings are like "lite" beer.

Pack a little muscle and no need to try to coax a tad more performance out of a marginally performing bow. Fred Bear's experience is the best guide. Fred's advice about bow strings? In the field, bow strings can get nicked. Better to add a string - just in case - than lose a shot.

When Fred needed to add a little more to the shot, he pulled back for a longer draw. His tendons and muscles were the most important "strings" for performance.

Old School Hunters like FB shot 65 pounds or higher. Yeah, you might ask, but why do we find all those 40 pound bows for sale? All those thousands of 40 pound bows were designed for entry level 2 season hunters. When the compound was invented, these 2 season hunters made the compound market. Now they are pushing for crossbows.

Not sure how skinny the strings get on those arrow shooting machines. ;)

Yunwiya, I think beer is a bunk analogy. In my experience "skinny strings'" add significant performance, not just "a tad more....". Additionally, Fred shot Dacron strings which don't have near the tensile strength of modern materials, so we don't need as many strands these days to have a strong and durable string. Also the harmonics are noticeably better/quieter with low strand count strings than the more standard strand counts. You'd have to actually use "skinny strings" to comprehend their benefits, but luckily for you real time experience is giving way to conjecture in our society these days.

Widow strings are 14 strand D97 not 20.

For me, skinny strings give you that 3-4 more feet where normally your arrow might fall short. That said, I do shoot heavy arrows.

That's excellent advice on inspecting a bow string Rick...another thing learned.

Hope things work out for you Scott.Could have been worse for the bow and you.

Roger Fulton contacted me, and asked for me to send the riser in for inspection. Toby Essick also contacted me, but did not sound very optimistic.

I received my Black Widow back the other day.

No charge for the repair, $100 for the refinishing, plus shipping.

I've put on a new string, and have run about 50 arrows through it.

So far, so good !

Looks great, bet you're happy. What did they do to fix it?

I'm a bit leary still (can't say gun shy !); Toby wasn't positive it would work. He put at least 1 screw through the damaged area after gluing it. I THINK I can see where the screw went in, but it is such a nice fix, that I'm not positive.

I'm glad that BW was able to fix your bow. Looks like a solid repair. I had an issue with a Saluki where one of the tips(siyah) had twisted when I had left the bow strung in the backseat of my car on a hot day. Lukas, the bowyer, told me to send the bow back to him. I sent it back and told me he would fix it and I could pick it up at The next Kalamazoo Expo. When I picked up the bow, he gave me another one for the cost of the materials, for my trouble.

That's awesome. I figured that riser was no longer shootable. Toby is a fine craftsman.

Nice. The ability to navigate such saves requires skills as valuable as any other in the craft. Well done.

Good deal!

sell it! just kidding

Glad your were not hurt.

Good job by Widow on the repair.

Had a PSAV bought used a few years ago that developed cracks[small ones] on the riser shelf. Sent it in and Toby glued and refinished the riser a couple months ago. He said it might or might not hold, but he thought it would outlast the shooter.Got to like a bunch like the Widow crowd. Was surprised they would do that , since I was not original buyer. Have no idea what the original owner did to the bow. The sent along a caution about shooting arrows too light for the bow draw weight. Glad they were able to fix yours too. Roy

Not really surprised. I don't own one or shoot 'em (just not my thing) but I am a Black Widow fan' I know what they did for a buddy of mine just before he left for a once in a life time hunt back when Ken Beck first acquired the company.

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