Acquiring proficiency in bow hunting or sport-bow shooting requires years of practice. That translates into regular use that places a great deal of stress on the bow. Continued use often causes stress marks or cracks to appear on the bow. Repairs of the fiberglass material from which the bow is made integrates techniques similar to those found in fiberglass boat- and auto-body rebuilding.
Items you will need
Safety glasses
Respirator
40-grit sandpaper
Fiberglass mesh
Scissors
Fiberglass resin
Hardener/catalyst
Plastic cup
Plastic stirrer
Fiberglass applicator
Acetone
Sponge
Step 1
Unstring your bow after putting on safety glasses and a respirator. Refer to your owner's manual for specific instructions on how to unstring your bow.
Step 2
Sand the damaged portion of the fiberglass limb with 40-grit sandpaper. Remove any splinters.
Step 3
Wrap fiberglass mesh around the bow limb. Cut the mesh to fit with scissors. Set the cut fiberglass mesh aside.
Step 4
Combine fiberglass resin with hardener and catalyst inside a plastic cup. Follow the manufacturer's proprietary instructions. Mix the compounds together with a stirring stick.
Step 5
Pour the liquefied fiberglass mixture over the damaged spot on the bow limb. Use an applicator to spread the mixture evenly. Wrap the fiberglass mesh around the limb before the liquefied mixture dries.
Step 6
Allow the fiberglass to dry about three hours, or as long as directed by the manufacturer. Clean the area with acetone and a sponge prior to restringing your bow.
References
- "Bow Hunting Basics for Beginners"; Bob Pope; 2003
- "The Fiberglass Boat Repair Manual"; Allan H. Vaitses; 1988
Writer Bio
Owen Richason grew up working in his family's small contracting business. He later became an outplacement consultant, then a retail business consultant. Richason is a former personal finance and business writer for "Tampa Bay Business and Financier." He now writes for various publications, websites and blogs.
