Fixing a handle

**DONOTDELETE** · May 14, 2008, 06:02:00 PM

Ok, I found that the handle on my self (board) bow is de-laminating, so I want to know if this will work...

I'm planing on getting some super glue to get deep inside the handle/bow... After that dries I will drill the handle in 3 spots... 1' from fade ends then in the middle of them put the third one. Then if I feel up to it... I was thinking of wraping the handle area from fade to fade with Sinew & TB III.... I think the super glue will be enuff, But was thinking of doing all 3 as a How to....Does everyone think these will work.

Pat B · May 14, 2008, 06:10:00 PM

I would add a layered handle like Eric showed the other day on another post. 3 or 4 layers of thin(1/8" or less)wood in graduating lengths. It will flex a bit with the bow and will keep the handle from popping off...if not too much bend. Pat

**DONOTDELETE** · May 14, 2008, 06:12:00 PM

so cut off the handle and re-do it but with layers/laminates... if so I do have some red oak & IPE I can use.

Pat B · May 14, 2008, 06:15:00 PM

Yes! Pat

**DONOTDELETE** · May 14, 2008, 06:41:00 PM

I found the thread... Thanx Pat...I'll do that tomorrow & I'll post pic's..

**DONOTDELETE** · May 15, 2008, 01:51:00 PM

well I didn't have my batteries charged so no pic's of cutting the handle off or cutting 1/8" slats for the new handle. I had some left over Red oak and a Piece of Ipe so I cut 3 Red oaks & 3 Ipes... I then cut all but one down.. The lengths are from bow: 11" Ipe, 10" RO, 9" Ipe, 8" RO & 7" Ipe. I'll use the table band saw to ruff cut the handle then work it with a rasp & paper....

wingnut · May 15, 2008, 02:04:00 PM

That will do nicely. Now you need to figure out why it popped off to start with. Check to see that it isn't bending into the fades. That is the usual suspect when handles fail to stay put.

Mike

**DONOTDELETE** · May 15, 2008, 02:13:00 PM

it was bending in the fades & I didn't have a good glue line.... This one I didn't clamp it down to tightly...I might just do all my bow with the handle in layers... I see others doing and their bows look great with different color handle areas...

Eric Krewson · May 15, 2008, 02:13:00 PM

What kind of glue did you use on the popped off handle?

**DONOTDELETE** · May 15, 2008, 02:21:00 PM

it was TB III, I knew I didn't have a good glue line and tryed to fix it... It held for about 50 shots, then I saw it didn't hold. Once I saw Your Post Eric I can see how that kind of handle fix would work better. I'm up loading pic's of the pieces under clamps with glue drying.

**DONOTDELETE** · May 15, 2008, 02:28:00 PM

here is the glue up

Eric Krewson · May 15, 2008, 02:34:00 PM

Part of the problem is your fades are too short and abrupt.

Everything you read says to make them 1 1/2" long, I start mine out at 2 3/4" long and make a real gradual slope to the handle, like this.

**DONOTDELETE** · May 15, 2008, 03:24:00 PM

are they 1/8" slats Eric, or did you use a different size?

Eric Krewson · May 15, 2008, 04:27:00 PM

1/8" is just right.

**DONOTDELETE** · May 15, 2008, 06:19:00 PM

I need to fix my table saw so I can rip them better... I'm going to wait till Saturday to refinish the handle, check tillering & refinish the whole bow with another coat of Tru-oil or 2..

**DONOTDELETE** · May 17, 2008, 10:10:00 AM

well I had the new handle curing for 2 days and it looked nice. After I shaped the handle I wanted to recheck tillering, as I was drawing the bow (making sure I didn't over draw the weight)the handle broke braking the bow at the fade of the lower limb. The only thing I can think of is the lower limb was stiffer after I re-did the handle...I think that was the last red oak board bow for me. When I get paid I'll be trying a hickory board bow.

After it broke I was thinking maybe I should have drilled & pin the handle, but Who knows if that would have broke too.... Well back to the Bow drawing board.....I did get about 200+ shots out of it.... I'll try a different style bow, next... So far out of the 9 I did, Only 1 made it the longest. That bow is way under weight, but it's still a working bow.... That one was 2.5" @ fades & .25" @ tips.... Pyramid style bow. I guess that's the style that I can do better with red oak....

I might even go look for some bow trees in the back woods. Do a green stave and let it cure for a month or 2, might even ruff out a bow as well.

I still want to Thank Mickey & Eric for their help with this bow.

Mickey, Again thanx for helping, Your web page has been my guide to BRAKING BOWS...LOLJ/K Great site Mickey & lots of great how-to's.

Eric, I really liked the way the handle looked after I did layers in the Handle... I think that's the way I'm going to do handles on ever bow I work on now, Again Thank You as well..