Bending ERC?

[Hillbilly]

I've got me a nice stave of ERC that I traded Nugget out of, and I'm looking forward to trying it. I was wondering how easy/hard it is to heat bend? I'm thinking about making a gull-wing sinewed Plains-type bow from it, but I've never tried bending cedar.

[cowboy]

Hmmm, of interest to me. Totally worthless info to you Steve , but I may try something like that in the near future .

[mullet]

   Steam it Steve, nice and slow. Bend it a little and steam it some more. I've broke a bunch by trying to bend it too much too quick.

[Hillbilly]

Thanks, Eddie. I won't be making any drastic bends if I stick with my plan-just a little setback in the handle and maybe some deflex at midlimb. Is it back to check after steaming, or pretty stable?

[Stickhead]

I've done some limited steam bending to the tips of an ERC bow.  It was mostly sapwood, which I've heard is more tolerant of bending.  The heartwood is so brittle that I've never had the guts to bend it.  I'll do some experimenting on scraps one of these days.  Please post anything you learn for the rest of us!

[mullet]

  Steve, seal the back. It will check on you after steaming. It seems to dry very fast.