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Glues are used (l) to splice billets for bowstaves, (2) to splice "footings" to arrow shafts, (3) to attach feathers to shafts, (4) to attach facings and backings of a variety of materials to bows, (5) to lay leather or other bindings on bow handles, (6) to laminate bows from layers of thin wood or wood with other materials, and (7) to attach nocks and points to arrow shafts.

Properties of Glues ^[1]

The woodworking glues that are available to amateur archers may be grouped into several types based on durability of the resultant joint, conditions required in gluing, and cost. The following generalizations are given for the guidance of archers who do not wish to make a special study of the literature on gluing.

(1) No glue will produce joints of maximum strength unless the joint fits closely and unless the glue is prepared and used correctly. Directions for use are furnished by the manufacturer or supplier. Conditions that give best results in gluing with one type of glue may not give best results, or even fair results, with another type of glue.

(2) Generally high-grade glues of all principal types of woodworking glues will give equally high initial, dry joint strength on commonly used species when used under the most favorable conditions for that type of glue.

(3) Woodworking glues vary widely in their water resistance. In addition, the water resistance of the joint will vary according to the quality pf the gluing and the effectiveness of the protective coatings.

(4) Animal glues are characterized by high dry strength, low water resistance, and quick gelling. These glues are available in a series of grades, the higher grades gelling more quickly than the lower grades under similar conditions. Formulas have been developed to improve the moisture resistance of animal glue, but their use is not recommended for amateurs. Hot animal glues, prepared by the user and used as soon as possible after melting, give best results. Control of wood and glue temperatures and of assembly time, however, are critical with hot animal glue. Liquid animal glues appear to vary considerably from sample to sample.

(5) There are a number of kinds and grades of casein glue. For gluing wood used in archery, a water-resistant or "joint" grade of casein glue should be used. Casein glues are used cold. Because of their high alkalinity, these glues tend to stain woods containing extractives.

(6) Urea-resin glues (one type of synthetic-resin glue) set at 70° F. or above. They are generally available in local hardware and building supply stores as powders to be mixed with water before use. These glues are convenient to use, develop a high degree of water resistance, are colorless, and do not stain the wood. Their rate of strength development can be increased by heating the joint. The glue mix will set hard and insoluble in water within a few hours, so that it cannot be cleaned away or used after this hardening. The sensitivity of urea resins to long exposure at elevated temperatures should not be a significant limitation for archery applications. Special gap-filling formulations of urea resins are preferred by some archers.

(7) Resorcinol-resin glues are the most recent type of woodworking glue. These glues cure or harden at 70° F. or above, generally somewhat more slowly than urea resins. They are available in liquid form to which a separate powdered hardener is added before use. Resorcinol-resin glues produce a dark red or brown glue line, set hard within a few hours, and are the most durable of all room temperature setting woodworking glues. Generally excellent, durable bonds should be possible when they are properly used. At least one brand of resorcinol glue is available in retail shops, but the cost is higher than that of other glues.

(8) Various phenol-, melamine-, urea-, and other resin glues are available that cure at 240° F. or higher, but these are not generally feasible for the amateur archer.

(9) Polyvinyl-resin emulsion glues are supplied as liquids ready to use at room temperature. Since they lack the water resistance of casein in joints under load, they are not recommended for most wood-to-wood joints in archery equipment. They may be very useful, however, for gluing leather, plastics, and other flexible materials to wood for trim where high stresses are not exerted on the joint and where their quick setting and colorless glue lines are distinct advantages.

(10) Nitrocellulose-base cements (pyroxylin) are particularly useful for attaching feathers to arrow shafts, plastic nocks or points to arrow shafts, and leather grips or handles to bows. Nonaqueous cements of the hot-melt type, such as DeKhotinsky cements, are often preferred for attaching metal points to shafts.

(11) A number of new adhesive-bonding procedures have been developed in recent years for bonding metals and plastics to wood in conjunction with the manufacture of aircraft and other specialized equipment, but many of these processes are still in the experimental stage and cannot be easily adopted by the typical archery enthusiast at this time. They will offer, however, to the archer with a technical interest a variety of opportunities to experiment with interesting new composite materials.^[2] Interest in such materials has increased because of the increasing shortage of the most desired species and quality of wood for bows.