Repairing an Inexpensive Bow with Breaks Near the Frog

This bow had multiple breaks near the frog, requiring a secure repair to restore its function. Below are the basic steps I followed:

1. Clean the Crack: Remove any dust or debris from the cracked area to ensure a strong bond.
2. Apply Glue: Work glue thoroughly into the crack, making sure it penetrates deeply.
3. Protect the Screw: Cover the bow screw to prevent any glue from interfering with its movement.
4. Tightly Wrap the Bow: Secure the broken area by wrapping it snugly.
5. Wrap with Monofilament Line: Use clear monofilament line for additional reinforcement, ensuring a tight and even wrap.
6. Secure the Ends: Overwrap both ends of the monofilament to hold everything firmly in place.
7. Apply Glue to the Wrapping: Work a small amount of glue into the wrapping to strengthen the bond.
8. Slide the Wrap into Position: Ensure the wrapping is properly aligned, allowing the frog to slide back fully.
9. Check Clearance: Confirm that the frog can move freely and that there is a small gap between the wrapping and the end of the bow.
10. Pull the Ends Tight: Pull both ends of the monofilament wrap as tightly as possible to maximize compression and support.
11. Trim the Ends: Carefully cut the excess monofilament for a clean finish.
12. Rehair the Bow: Once the repair is set, proceed with rehairing to restore full functionality.

This method reinforces the break while allowing the bow to ;function as intended, extending its usability.

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Repairing a Bow with Breaks Near the Frog Mortise

This bow had a couple of significant breaks near the frog mortise. While I don’t have pictures of the clamping process, here’s the complete step-by-step repair method I used:

1. Clean the Cracks: Carefully remove any debris or old glue from the cracks to ensure a strong bond.
2. Protect the Screw: Apply Vaseline to the bow screw and wrap it in a single layer of plastic wrap to prevent glue from sticking to it.
3. Apply Glue: Work glue thoroughly into both cracks, making sure it penetrates deeply.
4. Insert the Screw: Reinsert the screw (without the frog) to help maintain alignment during the repair.
5. Wrap the Bow with Thread: Tightly wrap the broken section of the stick with thread to reinforce the cracks and hold everything securely in place.
6. Ensure Proper Alignment: Double-check that the cracks are perfectly lined up before the glue sets.
7. Check Screw Rotation: Make sure the bow screw can still rotate freely and hasn’t been glued in place.
8. Clamp if Necessary: If the cracks require extra pressure, use clamps in addition to the thread wrapping.
9. Remove Excess Glue: Clean up any glue squeeze-out before it dries to keep the repair area neat.
10. Polish the Repair: Lightly polish the area to blend the repair with the rest of the stick.
11. Apply a Clear Wrap: Use a layer of clear wrap at the end of the stick to ensure the frog can still move all the way back into the mortise.
12. Secure the Thread Wrapping: This wrap does not use knots. Instead, both ends are over-wrapped and pulled tight to hold everything in place.

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