time for steam bent wood to dry

[d frana]

Yesterday I did my first steam bend.  I bent recurves on a roughed out vine maple bow and now I need to let it dry good before I do more shaping and tillering.  I figured on waiting a month.  The woods about 1/2' thick.  How long is long enough?

[sonny]

A week is probably plenty. waiting a month can't hurt.
 
also, however counter intuitive it may seem steaming actually dries wood significantly. your wood will need to rehydrate not dehydrate......

 

[Josh]

I agree with sonny about needing to rehydrate.  usually a week is enough time.  Was the vine maple already seasoned or was it still green when you steamed it?   

[KenH]

It's not drying that matters after steam bending.  It's cooling.  Once cooled to ambient temperature the bend should be set.

[d frana]

I'm sure it was good and dry.  I had it stored indoors more than 2 years as a roughed out stave.  The humidity here lately has been  around 95% so it shouldn"t  take too long.

[Gordon]

I resume tillering after waiting about 24 hours after steaming. I've steam bent a lot of limbs and handles and have never had a problem doing that.