I had some bad luck in selfbow building two years ago, breaking four in a row for various reasons. My last seven have turned out successfull; bows of black locust, yew billets, oso berry and two Osage.

For fun I thought to try a hollow limb design of yew. I got it to bending on the tiller tree to 14" and it was looking good.

I measured and shaped, flipped the tips slightly and started to hollow the limb belly to match the back. I left the tips wide in case I needed some string alignment later. I glued on temporary nocks.

It was bending nicely in the vice. On a long string it bent nice and even on the tiller tree.

I got a long string on it and flexed and exercised to even limb bend. It was bending to 14" on the tiller tree.

I went to put the long string on and was using the step through method to get the string on. We'll........CRACK!

They say if you want to be a successful bowyer, you can't be a quitter! I have one more good stave left in the hayloft and two yew billets ready to go.

Time to try again I guess.

SD

Bummer!

Might try a little shallower hollow on the next one. Good luck.

That’s too bad. I’ve never attempted a hollow limb design myself. You definitely had a lot of work in it at that point.

Been there, done that. sucks, but still learning. John

I see no good reason to make hollow limb bows.

Damn.

every one is a learning experience but hollow might be redesigning the wheel

Not for me, I have enough challenges as it is. Sorry to see it happen to you, I have broken a few bows myself.

I'd dribble some thin epoxy into the crack like West Systems clamp it together and see if salvageable.

Bob

WHY?

Glue, and patch the crack with thin strips of wood on belly, and back. It is worth a try. Yew is hard to come by, and expensive. Good luck.

No, it's kindling now I think.

Feedback from a friendly bowyer suggests that the edges were too thick and that the middle of the limb wanted to bend but the edges did not. He suggested more of a knife edge design.

My thoughts were that I had only started the bending process and that I was still safe in the tillering. Obviously not! I have had limbs break before but never stem to stern.

SD

That's not repairable. I would cut that other limb off and use it down the road. Either a splice job or a sleeve set.

Too bad. I’ve had more trouble with yew than any other selfbow wood

I’d rather trap the back to reduce mass instead of hollowing the belly. . That’s just me.

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