bending recurve tips

[jeffp51]

Is steam or dry heat better for bending hickory recurves?

[simson]

Steam!
Use dry heat for flipping tips, for larger curves use steam.

[bowmo]

Yea for sure. Hickory definitely tends to crack with dry heat and any kind of dramatic bending.

[jeffp51]

this will be for a child's bow, and I don't think I will put a lot of curve into it--just enough  for show. The bow is 50 inches and I am aiming for about 15 lbs at 15 inches of draw.  I will have to post the failure I had on his previous attempt soon.

[Pat B]

Steam is the best for hickory.

[jeffp51]

steam it is, then.  By the way, is there there a defined difference between flipped and recurved tips?  Recurves come in static and bendy flavors if I am not mistaken. Are flipped tips just less severe? 

Teach me.

[bowmo]

Flipped tips is a term for very tiny recurves. They usually only occupy the last 2" on the limb tip and only add around an inch of set beck. Can't decide if I help pioneer the term around 10 years ago or not. 

[Springbuck]

 Steam or boil if the bend is much at all.  15 degrees over 6" and a 3/8" thick limb on a kid's bow,  I could do with dry heat.

  I thought I helped pioneer the term about 10 years ago!     JK.    I consider it any super low angle recurves, like 6'' or 4'', but only moved foreward an inch or so.

[bowmo]

Here's some...

[Pat B]

On a recurve the string rides on the curve until the bow is drawn(string contact). On flipped tips only a slight amount of reflex is added to the tips and the string usually doesn't make contact below the nock.