Bow Head Repair | Experimental Dowel Reinforcement Behind Mortise

This bow head had broken just before the mortise, in a spot where traditional repair methods didn’t provide enough surface or strength to hold a clean joint. To solve the problem, I experimented with a small internal dowel alignment technique to reinforce the break from within. By carefully drilling, fitting, and gluing a tiny dowel between the head and stick—along with a small stabilizing wedge near the mortise—I was able to reattach the head with accurate alignment and added internal strength. The repair was completed neatly, and only time and playing will reveal how well this reinforcement holds under tension.

• Broke near mortise - The bow head snapped just before the tip mortise.
• Drilled a tiny hole - Positioned just before the mortise to act as a guide.
• Used a sharpened nail - Just tall enough to protrude from the hole for alignment.
• Pressed head against nail - Marked the correct spot on the opposite side for the second hole.
• Drilled opposing hole - Aligned with the first hole using the nail mark.
• Inserted a small dowel - Glued into the first hole to act as a hidden pin.
• Fit dowel length - Trimmed carefully to reach into the second hole.
• Glued head and dowel - Bonded both halves with alignment and stability.
• Drove in tiny wedge - Reinforced near the mortise where the dowel came close to the edge.
• Cleaned the outer stick - Smoothed and blended the repair area on the outside.
• Reinstalled old hair - Placed back into the repaired mortise slot.
• Final result - A functional repair-only time will tell how well it holds.

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