Sharp hooks ( a how to and lots of argument as to their merits )

[sleek]

How do some of you guys get those beautiful sharp 90 degree hooks at the end of a bow? I need to make 5 inches bend 90 degree on osage. Every time i try it cracks on me with dry heat and steam.

[JonW]

Boil it Kevin. Dry heat works but boiling is pretty much fool proof.

[wizardgoat]

If your bow is already braced and pulling around 20" the tip will be pretty thin. Boil them and they'll turn to noodles. With Osage it'll help if your last 5-6" is one ring

[sleek]

How long do you boil them for?

[wizardgoat]

For yew I boil about 25-30 min, not enough experience with recurving Osage but I hear of guys doing it 30-40 min

[mikekeswick]

Yep, boiling is the only way to get the tightest bends. Leave the tips full width. Having the belly to one growth ring is essential. Round the edges over very well too. You can also notch the width if you want to concentrate the bend in one particular spot. Using a form with a strap of steel is pretty much obligatory too. Having a long pipe clamp or similar will allow you to keep tightening it, little by little, without removing it from the heat. Do not try and get all the bend at once.
If you use all these bits of advice you should be able to get 90 degrees. Then welcome to the world of proper recurves!

[Springbuck]

Yep.  I put em in the pot cold, bring the heat up, and boil them a good long time.  How long depends on 5hickness, of course, but too long is better than not long enough.

Also, get that wood as thin as you can first.  And be willing to put belly overlays on or whatever, too.

[PEARL DRUMS]

Just to add to the fun. I never strap mine and I only steam them, with great success. I make the entire bend in one shot as well. So there, that is exactly 100% opposite of what they told you as a method.

[sleek]

I have the mental image of you throwing wrenches in gears and loving it.

[PEARL DRUMS]

No sir. I throw experience at gears to help them rotate and mesh more freely.

[sleek]

I like your style.

But what do i know right? 

[bubby]

 9 year old did this with dry heat, no strap and first time doing it, hell sleek if he can do that with dry ya got to be able to get a 90 deg bend boiling it, i double dawg dare ya 😈😈

[sleek]

All that with dry heat? Better man than I. Kudos.

I was able to get boiling to work. It bent right over limp as could be. No splinter or tear out.

[Springbuck]

Experience counts, but everyone's does.  Sometimes what works for us is what we prefer, or what we have the best tools for.

  I have done  lots, many even, sharp curves with steam and both dry heat, no straps.  But I have done even more, and with better success, by boiling.  My boiling set-up is definitely a better tool for the job than any of my steaming set-ups have been.

[PEARL DRUMS]

With all due respect, Mr. Buck,  pics, or it didn't happen. I want to see all these bows you talk about, I'm serious and curious. Id love to see just a few, or even snippits of recurves, handles, tip overlays, leather grips, whatever. Im not being my usual smarta** self either. It makes the words take on their proper meaning, at least for me.