How to make heat adjustment to Yew?

[Sidewinder]

Can anyone tell me how yew responds to dry heat. I have a pretty nice yew stave I traded for about 5-6yrs ago. I think I'm ready to make a bow out of it and it will need some side to side heat correction at one end.  I know the rule that dry heat on cured wood, steam heat on wet wood. I have only heat corrected osage and hackberry and was just curious if any of you yew boys had any good advise.   Danny

[Bryce]

You can steam, boil and use dry heat on dry wood. It's all good. In your case I would just use the heat gun.

[Del the cat]

Personally I'd go with steam.
If you use dry heat it may effect the sapwood.
I have no experience of damaging the sapwood with dry heat, but wouldn't want to risk it, as the sap wood is the bit that stops it going bang!
I will use dry heat for bends that go towards back or belly as I can just heat the belly and protect the sapwood.
For a sideways correction it can be jigged up with steam confined to the area that wants the heat and pressure applied in the direction you want. It can then be left steaming for ages.
Here's a post from my blog that shows what I mean... it's all about the preparation.
http://bowyersdiary.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/steam-bending-yew.html
Del

[Sidewinder]

Pretty neat set up Del. Thanks to both you guys for your response. I'm most used to dry heat so I'll probabley go that way.   Danny

[Weylin]

I agree with Bryce and Del. Steam is less risky and plenty effective for what you want to do but heat could work also. I've done both.

[wizardgoat]

yew bends like rubber with steam or dry heat. if you use dry heat, brush on some oil

[Marc St Louis]

I have used dry-heat on self Yew warbows with no ill effects.  I have come across some Yew that will not budge with dry-heat, very rare but they are out there.

[MWirwicki]

A little lard or Crisco shortening works great for me.  Heat it up a little and wipe a bit on from the can on a papertowel and then wipe a bit on your yew belly.  It doesn't take much at all.  If you plan to sinew though, don't get any on the back of the bow, if you can help it.  Glue doesn't stick very well to it.

[Sidewinder]

I like to use some leftover peanut oil from a fish fry we had a couple years back.  Danny

[bambule]

I treat Yew often with a heat gun. I always use oil when treating yew. My first attemps without oil ended up in heavy cracks. With oil I never had any problems.

Greetz
bambule