I was working on a bow today and while shaping the fades my dang handle popped up a bit. I was wondering if anyone had issue with glue and cold weather? Because I am not sure if it was the weather or if i took too much off the fade.

Thanks guys

Ive not had a problem with glue coming apart on bows BUT I have had glued up panels for furniture making come apart on me,so its very possible cold is the problem. I bring all my glue in the house when we have a bad freeze here {bad freeze for us is 25-30}  One day Ill get heat in the shop!!

22 was the high today , and i would have definitely brought things inside to glue up. lots of glues say the minimum temp of the glue and pieces. iirc , tb3 is 45 degrees.


what kind of glue , and are you sure it wasnt just starved of glue?  almost sounds like maybe it was bending in the handle and popped open...

pic would help...

Were you flexing the bow when the handled lifted? What glue are you using?  I've used TB and Urac and not had troubles with cold temps with either. It was 8 here this morning and mid 20s for a high.

Looking at it today, I am getting a little flex near the top of the handle. I didn't want to, but I added some small wood screws to the handle.
I am thinking the area may have not gotten enough glue. I glued it up inside with TB3 and let it set for 48 hours.

Thanks for the advice guys, much appreciated

It doesn't matter what glue you use if the bow flexes at all at the handle the handle will pop off. Only way I know to prevent it is to either use thin lams of graduation lengths to build your riser(flexes a bit) or use leather or something else that will flex when bent.

yeah i just re-read and thats what i was thinking , is that the bend was too close to the handle or your fades were too stiff...

did you clamp the piece at all or just glued and let set...

-hov