The Vine Maple Bow: A Build-Along

[Gus]

Yes Sir!

Lovin It!
I'll be A-Watchin'...

Now all I gotta do is find I piece of Vine Maple... 

-gus

[burn em up chuck]

   thanx for the post

                 chuck

[okie64]

Nice build Bryce. I always enjoy seeing someone elses process.

[PatM]

Nice  Build- Along. Do you always bring the water to a boil and then stick the stave in? Apparently the chances of cracking are diminished if you put the stave in cold water and then bring it to a boil and raise the wood temp gradually.
 Probably depends on the wood type as well.

[Bryce]

Pat you bring up a good point!
With dark woods like yew,, juniper I will put the wood in before boiling and then start the timer when it comes to a boil.

With dense woods such as oceanspray, osage, and ipe I will soak the wood either over night or a few days. Then boil. with this method you can Bend the wood around a coffee cup without tearing or raising a splinter:)

Vine maple is a stretchy and fiberous wood so a straight boil is sufficient


Thank for the input!

[simson]

Interesting work, Bryce. Thank you for that.

[wizardgoat]

I've had pretty bad luck with bending, but just tonight I boiled a yew stave for an hour and got a really nice bend with no tear out.
Thanks for this, I really haven't been able to find much info on boil bending.
How much time do you give it before you start working it again. I was told a few days for steam, but should you wait longer for boiling?

[PatM]

Tell us more about you luck with bending Ipe by boiling. Many say that Ipe won't budge no matter what you do but I have found old references that it was prized for making bentwood furniture in South America and that it bends very well. Is making it "green" again the key?
 Sorry for the hijack.

[SLIMBOB]

Great Build-Along Bryce.  I'm tuned in and watching.

[seminolewind]

Youre a pickle eatin, bow makin freak O' nature ! That vine maple looks like some cool wood to work with, is it similar to Crepe Myrtle ?

Very niiiiice high five (borat voice)

[snag]

Out here in Orygun we have vine maple.
Really enjoying your post Bryce. I'll have to try boiling some tips. 
I have a viney stave that has about 4" of reflex.  Hope to make time to start on it soon.

[Bryce]

I've had pretty bad luck with bending, but just tonight I boiled a yew stave for an hour and got a really nice bend with no tear out.
Thanks for this, I really haven't been able to find much info on boil bending.
How much time do you give it before you start working it again. I was told a few days for steam, but should you wait longer for boiling?

You could probably get away with about 25mins per 1/2" thickness.

Tell us more about you luck with bending Ipe by boiling. Many say that Ipe won't budge no matter what you do but I have found old references that it was prized for making bentwood furniture in South America and that it bends very well. Is making it "green" again the key?
 Sorry for the hijack.

It's fine, ipe is by far the hardest to secure a good bend but soaking for a few days and boiling and setting with the heat gun have givin me good reasults.
Ipe was around 1/4" or 3/16" thick at the tips can't remember.



Thanks Elijah:D I've never work myrtle so I have no idea


Sounds like a nice stave Dave.

[wizardgoat]

Hey bryce, in my question I meant how long do you wait to work the bow after you do your boil bends?

[Bryce]

After boiling i wait about 4 hrs. Set with dry heat and then work the bow the next day.

[bambule]

very nice, thank you for your effort.

Greetz
Cord