Splintering yoke bows

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  • March 17, 2011 at 1:29 pm #42540
    Michael Low
    Participant

    The bottom of my team’s bows are splintering. I see that most people use electrical tape to fix this problem. Does this really work as a long term solution? We are coming into the season of long daily work for our team.

    Thank you,
    Michael Low
    Green Fire Farm
    W. Danville, VT

    March 17, 2011 at 7:31 pm #66350
    Tim Harrigan
    Participant

    Tape does not fix it, just keeps it from poking you. It is breaking where the wood fibers streatched too far. The best thing to do is use a spoke shave and trim off the broken fibers. The bottom of the bow will be narrower than the rest but it should not be a problem. If you do not have a spoke shave maybe a belt sander will be OK.

    March 17, 2011 at 11:15 pm #66352
    Lanny Collins
    Participant

    Tim, does it make sense that you would maybe once a year or so take the bows and soak or wipe them down with a good wood preservative? It seems like since these are exposed to the elements that keeping them treated something like boiled linseed oil or some other type oil would prevent the splintering effect or at minimum slow it down.:)

    March 17, 2011 at 11:50 pm #66351
    Tim Harrigan
    Participant

    I think it is not uncommon to splinter the outer 20% or so of the deep bend of the bow. After I have shaved it down and feathered it back into the outer parts of the bow I have not seen much additional splintering over time. It would not hurt to use some oil on it once in a while, but I don’t put anything on my bows. Usually there is enough oil from the hide of the cattle that I just don’t see a need for it. But linseed oil certainly will not hurt anything and is worth a try. What kind of wood are you using, you might be seeing problems that just don’t occur with other woods.

    March 18, 2011 at 1:06 am #66353
    Lanny Collins
    Participant

    @Tim Harrigan 25733 wrote:

    I think it is not uncommon to splinter the outer 20% or so of the deep bend of the bow. After I have shaved it down and feathered it back into the outer parts of the bow I have not seen much additional splintering over time. It would not hurt to use some oil on it once in a while, but I don’t put anything on my bows. Usually there is enough oil from the hide of the cattle that I just don’t see a need for it. But linseed oil certainly will not hurt anything and is worth a try. What kind of wood are you using, you might be seeing problems that just don’t occur with other woods.

    Tim, I am not an oxer, just with all the wood I use on the farm which is usually in fences, trailers, etc..; I was not thinking but yes the oils in the animals hair is probably adequate but even with that didn’t know how well it would work itself around to the outside where the most bend stress was occurring. Just a horse / mule person being nosy and throwing out ideas.:D

    March 18, 2011 at 1:33 pm #66349
    Michael Low
    Participant

    Thanks Mr. Harrigan, I’ll do that to the bows.

    Michael Low
    Green Fire Farm
    West Danville, VT

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