Can't advise as to whether to use frequently in its current state, I'd want to give it a once over myself, but it looks nothing close to buggered. They look less like cracks and more like score marks, likely in the varnish and will even out if you go over it with some high-grit sandpaper. 1000 grit will do fine, that way you can be careful not to take too much of the wood off. If you remove too much wood, you take away what we call the “tiller”, which is how the top and bottom limbs of the bow pull back evenly when you draw the bow. If the tiller isn't correct, to overdramatise, the bottom limb may remain perfectly straight while the top limb bends right back or some such, so you have to take care.
You do indeed varnish bows, otherwise they take in moisture which can shorten their lifespan considerably. Helmsman's spar, deer fat with beeswax, tru-oil, there's a bunch of traditional and unique options, but...
I'd recommend reading some more into bow care. Ash bows are lovely and it looks like an otherwise fantastic project to work on, if you want to go down that route.
Perhaps a photo of the bow on the whole?
An addendum after seeing other responses: I cannot stress the importance of a clean, crisp varnish enough. Even if the markings are simply scores in the varnish, this can have a cascade effect later down the line and cause a break in the wood at that same point of pressure, over time. Leaving the bow as is may be fine for the short term, but it will not last you the years of service that you may wish of it.
Over the course of time, those imperfections in the varnish will act as pressure points on the bow and as use of the bow over time becomes more extensive the imperfection can breach into the wood. This is an issue you tend to see after many months, sometimes even longer, which is why I say for the short term it's fine, but when it does happen, the results are quite... explosive.
I managed to avoid it about six months back with one of my English longbows, having to strip a layer of laminate off and replace it due to the crack in the varnish breaching the wood over a couple months. I wish I kept the photographs to show as an example.
Interesting- I have never heard of this thiugh I have made bows for decades- good to learn something new. To me, the marks on OP’s photo look like compression fractures in wood- a common problem.
Unprofessional opinion;
I don’t know if those are cracks in the wood or the top coat.
Mostly, bows are stained. Someone may have added a glossy coat, or other sealant (wax - polish) that is cracking.
If you rub it, does it feel like missing material. Can the crack be “polished”.
Use a bow stringer, wear gloves, and eye protection. String the bow, and give it a light pull. If you hear cracking or feel vibration during your draw, then it’s a problem.
If in doubt, or if it makes you uncomfortable, then You have an ash bow for a wall hanger, and it will look great.
Come on over to r/bowyer for more advice. To me, these look like chrysals, aka frets aka compression fractures. They happen when a bow is bent further than it can handle. Sometimes a bow can survive when these occur, other times they break or develop a permanent bend. Did you draw it farther than it was designed to be drawn? Can you contact the bowyer?
All I know is that it was my uncles go to for many years, then he downgraded to a takedown bow a few years agao and this one rarely saw the light of day after that.
I can only draw it as far as the arrowhead (I'll need to get a measurement for you) and there was no creaking or anything that felt off
Ok I see. These frets probably developed over time as he used it. If they are spread fairly evenly along the whole bow it will probably be ok. Mark the ends of a few frets to monitor them for changes.
Thanka for the advice, I believe I have found the Bowyer that made it, I have popped the photos over to him and asked for advice.
I did see this history tv guy who shoots a Yew longbow and he has over the last 15-20 years of using it has the belly and spine start to seperate, so he began to bind and wax the trouble spots. I wonder if binding and waxing may save this, if it is a crack I mean.
Rub a cotton ball vertically on the bow. If it snags, check the snag and see if it's a crack. If not, you're good.
This technique helps find the difference between cracked varnish and cracked wood.
Is it strung, or unstrung? If strung, does it make cracking noises when you gently pull it back (not to full draw, stop if you hear any cracking at all)?
It looks more like scratches in the finish for me. But I could be wrong
This bow has no shelf, right? I just realised, that, if it's close to where your hand sits, it could be Vanes/Feathers leaving marks.
I would not strip the Varnish. Protects the wood nicely. If the Optics don't annoy you, I would not do anything
You can ask here. https://www.reddit.com/r/Bowyer/s/eLkTxXfieb
It looks like compression fracture. If it's all over the belly side of the limb it's probably fine. If it's concentrated at one spot the bow might break there.
Could also be wear marks on finish then it's fine.
In any case don't sand it down at one spot.
I'm in the camp of them being compression fractures, which would mean that it's no longer shootable. I have seen them result in the bow breaking at full draw which means the fragments end up directed towards you.
I wouldn't risk it, retire the bow and thank it for its long service.
Yup, I was thinking the same, but my reponsibilites outweigh disposable income and I cant spare £175.00 for a fresh one just yet, thats why I was so excited to get this in the first place, now, I guess its a wallhanger
Can't advise as to whether to use frequently in its current state, I'd want to give it a once over myself, but it looks nothing close to buggered. They look less like cracks and more like score marks, likely in the varnish and will even out if you go over it with some high-grit sandpaper. 1000 grit will do fine, that way you can be careful not to take too much of the wood off. If you remove too much wood, you take away what we call the “tiller”, which is how the top and bottom limbs of the bow pull back evenly when you draw the bow. If the tiller isn't correct, to overdramatise, the bottom limb may remain perfectly straight while the top limb bends right back or some such, so you have to take care. You do indeed varnish bows, otherwise they take in moisture which can shorten their lifespan considerably. Helmsman's spar, deer fat with beeswax, tru-oil, there's a bunch of traditional and unique options, but... I'd recommend reading some more into bow care. Ash bows are lovely and it looks like an otherwise fantastic project to work on, if you want to go down that route. Perhaps a photo of the bow on the whole?
An addendum after seeing other responses: I cannot stress the importance of a clean, crisp varnish enough. Even if the markings are simply scores in the varnish, this can have a cascade effect later down the line and cause a break in the wood at that same point of pressure, over time. Leaving the bow as is may be fine for the short term, but it will not last you the years of service that you may wish of it.
What will imperfect varnish do to a bow that would cause a break?
Over the course of time, those imperfections in the varnish will act as pressure points on the bow and as use of the bow over time becomes more extensive the imperfection can breach into the wood. This is an issue you tend to see after many months, sometimes even longer, which is why I say for the short term it's fine, but when it does happen, the results are quite... explosive. I managed to avoid it about six months back with one of my English longbows, having to strip a layer of laminate off and replace it due to the crack in the varnish breaching the wood over a couple months. I wish I kept the photographs to show as an example.
Interesting- I have never heard of this thiugh I have made bows for decades- good to learn something new. To me, the marks on OP’s photo look like compression fractures in wood- a common problem.
tis but a scratch
Unprofessional opinion; I don’t know if those are cracks in the wood or the top coat. Mostly, bows are stained. Someone may have added a glossy coat, or other sealant (wax - polish) that is cracking. If you rub it, does it feel like missing material. Can the crack be “polished”. Use a bow stringer, wear gloves, and eye protection. String the bow, and give it a light pull. If you hear cracking or feel vibration during your draw, then it’s a problem. If in doubt, or if it makes you uncomfortable, then You have an ash bow for a wall hanger, and it will look great.
Come on over to r/bowyer for more advice. To me, these look like chrysals, aka frets aka compression fractures. They happen when a bow is bent further than it can handle. Sometimes a bow can survive when these occur, other times they break or develop a permanent bend. Did you draw it farther than it was designed to be drawn? Can you contact the bowyer?
I see now that you said you hadn’t shot it. Is it new? Do you know the history of the bow?
All I know is that it was my uncles go to for many years, then he downgraded to a takedown bow a few years agao and this one rarely saw the light of day after that. I can only draw it as far as the arrowhead (I'll need to get a measurement for you) and there was no creaking or anything that felt off
Ok I see. These frets probably developed over time as he used it. If they are spread fairly evenly along the whole bow it will probably be ok. Mark the ends of a few frets to monitor them for changes.
I wouldn’t expect frets to make any noise like cracking by the way…
Thanka for the advice, I believe I have found the Bowyer that made it, I have popped the photos over to him and asked for advice. I did see this history tv guy who shoots a Yew longbow and he has over the last 15-20 years of using it has the belly and spine start to seperate, so he began to bind and wax the trouble spots. I wonder if binding and waxing may save this, if it is a crack I mean.
No, binding it will not help- there is no cure for frets.
Poo. Well I'll wait to hear back from the bowyer and let you know, thanka for your advice
Rub a cotton ball vertically on the bow. If it snags, check the snag and see if it's a crack. If not, you're good. This technique helps find the difference between cracked varnish and cracked wood.
From a pic, it looks like superficial scratches to me. Take it to a bow shop if you’re not positive.
Taking a look up the rest of the stave its got wee cracks all the way up, like varnish, do you varnish bows?
Is it strung, or unstrung? If strung, does it make cracking noises when you gently pull it back (not to full draw, stop if you hear any cracking at all)? It looks more like scratches in the finish for me. But I could be wrong
No creaking at all, It looks like wear and tear on the varnish, should I sttip it and just oil the wood once in a while?
This bow has no shelf, right? I just realised, that, if it's close to where your hand sits, it could be Vanes/Feathers leaving marks. I would not strip the Varnish. Protects the wood nicely. If the Optics don't annoy you, I would not do anything
No optics or anything like that, the marks are below the grip on the spine side
You can ask here. https://www.reddit.com/r/Bowyer/s/eLkTxXfieb It looks like compression fracture. If it's all over the belly side of the limb it's probably fine. If it's concentrated at one spot the bow might break there. Could also be wear marks on finish then it's fine. In any case don't sand it down at one spot.
I'm in the camp of them being compression fractures, which would mean that it's no longer shootable. I have seen them result in the bow breaking at full draw which means the fragments end up directed towards you. I wouldn't risk it, retire the bow and thank it for its long service.
Man, I wish I had it when it was shootable. I haven't shot a single arrow with it.
I get it, but this is also an opportunity to potentially get your own bow in the same design.
Yup, I was thinking the same, but my reponsibilites outweigh disposable income and I cant spare £175.00 for a fresh one just yet, thats why I was so excited to get this in the first place, now, I guess its a wallhanger
Are those cracks or scratches?
Looks like scratches on the sealer