Bending HHB

[bjrogg]

I see all the nice hooks and flipped tips on so many bows posted here but I just seem to have a hard time  getting very much bend out of my HHB. So far I have only used dry heat wondering if steam would be better. Just hoping some of you guys that use HHB might be able to give me a few tips or is this the nature of the beast. Thanks
Bjrogg

[PEARL DRUMS]

Use steam if your trying to put hooks in, BJ. If you have time, Id just grab some scrap pieces and practice a few bends. Get a feel for how long to steam and such. Dry heat should do anything else you want done to HHB. If your struggling you probably aren't heating it enough.

[upstatenybowyer]

I've bent hhb w/ steam lots

[bjrogg]

Thanks Pearl it's the hooks I'm struggling with. I can get the smaller bend no problem but haven't had very good consistent results with dry heat for the sharp bends
Bjrogg

[bjrogg]

Thanks Upstate, look like I'm going to have to put a pot on the burner and do some experiments
Bjrogg

[osage outlaw]

I had no luck bending HHB with dry heat.  Next time I'm using steam

[JacksonCash]

Keep us posted BJ, i've got some HHB that would be nice to do some bends on.

[bjrogg]

I will do that Jackson, Santa's workshop has been useing up the midnight oil lately trying to get a bunch of stuff done. There's only one elf but he's got some plans for experimenting
Bjrogg

[bjrogg]

Jackson here's a quick update. I did a little experiment last night. The steam worked much better but I can see now that I need to modify my caul. When I get a chance I'm going to make some changes and try it again. So far it looks much more promising.
Bjrogg

[Marc St Louis]

HHB can be tricky to bend even with steam.  Even with careful preparation and long steam time I have had recurves splinter.  I prep the tips by shaping them into a shallow D section, on the belly side of course, following 1 growth ring and sanding the edges.  I also always use a band with HHB.  A splintered recurve can be fixed with an overlay but it is such a pain in the A$$

[bjrogg]

Thanks Marc, I haven't done a real lot of sharp bending yet but the little I've done seems kinda unpredictable. I might get a nice bend on one tip then flip the bow over and the other end just doesn't seem to want to move. I do realize I need to rig up a better caul system and band. For a band I'm wondering if I went with something with a little spring to it. I use to have some 1/8" spring steel that would probably be good.
Bjrogg

[bjrogg]

Jackson I took Marc's advice and went with more of a D profile on the tips, steamed them at a good boil for 1 hour.  I had my caul and clamps all ready. I had a pair of leather gloves put bow on caul and lined it up good then kinda slowly let it bend into shape. I could feel it giving in not sure if I could have just quickly bent it but I'm very happy how it worked. I also toasted the belly so far I really like how this stave is coming along other than the handle area. I might have to rasp it down and glue something else onto it. Good Luck with your HHB I really like it for a bow wood but I never had the chance to get hooked on the yellow stuff yet.
Bjrogg

[bjrogg]

Here is the toasted belly you can see where I started at edge of steamed area the steam lifts the grain some.
Bjrogg

[osage outlaw]

That is looking good BJ!

[bjrogg]

Thanks Osage I think I might be getting the hang of this. I did a nice one for my granddaughter to that really shot nice. Kinda getting excited about this one
Bjrogg