playing with fire

[sadiejane]

is one of my favorite ways to spend a saturday morning is sitting by the fire.
why not put that fire to work straightening a hickory bow thats been sitting around way too long.
both limbs veered to the side
this one just had a slight bend

15 mins or so waving that puppy over the fire, then took it to the tree

worked pretty well

my neighbor josh and his daughter came over to enjoy the fire and sing me a tune or two

other limb has a bit more sideways bend going on

didnt come out as straight as the previous but the nocks line up-so will call it good

love morning fires and bending bows

[dwardo]

That looks like a good day in every respect. 

[StickMan47]

Looks good Sadie. Was just curious, I'm pretty new to bowmaking, did you have to chase a ring on that hickory? That stuff grows all over around here and I might harvest one soon. Also was wondering if you roughed out the shape before heating. Hard to tell in the pics but one looked like the handle was roughed out.

[sadiejane]

the back of this hickory bow is right under the bark. did nothing other than peel it.
this is from half a hickory split that was about 6" in diameter when standing
the bow is nearly done, more than roughed out, i have had a string on it.
needs a bit of final tillering and some polishing up and it will be done.

[George Tsoukalas]

Sadie, that sounds like a special day to me. Thanks for sharing it. Jawge

[Jim Davis]

Sadie, I've got to know, what is that wary chunk of firewood in the first photo? Looks like it could have made some fine-figured furniture inlay wood.

Jim Davis

[Stringman]

Yes Sadie that is a great way to start the day! Love your high tech approach to heat correction. 

Scott

[sadiejane]

Sadie, I've got to know, what is that wary chunk of firewood in the first photo? Looks like it could have made some fine-figured furniture inlay wood.

Jim Davis

well jim, it got put in the fire so i am not sure.
but yr right, you cant imagine how many pieces of firewood i stash in the shed or garage thinking they would be so much better used in other ways....

[Sidewinder]

Cool beans. Sitting around the fire, "telling lies and solving the worlds problems", is one of my favorite things to do as well. I like the way you took the time to multi task. Looks like the old fashioned way of straightening works just fine. I've done it that way too. I pretty much use my heat gun most of the time as most of it needs twist and side to side stuff both taken out. Thanks for sharing.   Danny

[soy]

I have had horrible luck finding someone to come over to play and sing as im bending wood
I have also had poor luck bending hickory with dry heat loves to brake dor me ...
Congratulations on doing both at the same time