BL drying crack question

[IdahoMatt]

I have a black locust stave that I have at floor tiller but it has some twist from tip to tip.  It has a few cracks from drying that are not too deep but a little long.  My question is?  Am I okay to use the heat gun to correct the twist and do a minor tip flip?  Or should I do something before?

[huisme]

I prefer steam, personally.

As long as the cracks aren't really close to the edge they should be fine. Fill them with superglue after you're done twisting and bending is you're still nervous about them.

[IdahoMatt]

I thought dry heat for locust would be the better method of heat.  I figured I could get tempering done at the same time as corrections.  Any thoughts.

[George Tsoukalas]

If you use dry heat make sure the stave is not wet as it will cause more cracking. Twists 30 degrees or less are bow worthy. I never did a large recurve with dry heat so don't know.Jawge

[Joec123able]

Steaming works much better in my opinion

[IdahoMatt]

Thanks for the replyes I will try to do steam.

[mikekeswick]

As George says make sure it's properly dry first then I'd do as you say do the tempering and corrections at once with the old heat gun.
As long as you have a form to work with I find correcting these sort of things is best with the more controlable heat from a heatgun.
I would fill the cracks first.

[TRACY]

Dry heat will work fine as long as the stave is dry. One that I'm finishing now, wished I steamed it only to save time correcting bends and adding reflex at same time by clamping to the caul. Heat will work.

Tracy

[IdahoMatt]

Thanks Mike and Tracy for comfirming what I thought.  I will fill with CA glue and go at it with the gun.