how long after heat treating??

[Nasr]

 how long do you guys leave your staves to rehydrate after a heat treating. I usually leave them 5 to 7 days before i start working on them again. I was just curious as to how long you guys usually wait before proceeding.

[Pat B]

Depending on the humidity and need to work it but at least 24 hours, generally 2 or 3 days.

[Nasr]

do you do anything to speed up the process like maybe put it in a place with higher humidity?

[Pat B]

We don't have a/c so if it is humid outside it's humid inside. Unless you are in an arid area there is generally enough humidity to help to re-hydrate the wood.

[Ryan Jacob]

Wait what, you had to let them re hydrate? What happens if you don’t wait?

[Nasr]

well ive pulled a bow after a heat treatment and it blew on me.

[Selfbowman]

Never done  it. I have shot them the same day. They need to be cool to the center. I am speaking mainly of Osage though. I don't think you can get hickory to dry.  Not in central Tx. Arvin

[Pat B]

Like Nasr said, they can blow. You dehydrate the bow when you heat treat it. Allowing it to rehydrate for a while is a safer option. I think one reason Marc St Louis adds the resin to a newly heat treated bow is to somewhat add moisture(the resin) back to the heat treated area.

[Selfbowman]

Pat I have had to much heat sneak around the edges mainly close to the tips when reflexing. This can weaken the edges if scorched. Had one blow because of that. I don't think waiting would have helped that one. Arvin

[Nasr]

I mean if you pull it without giving it time to rehydrate you are gonna risk blowing it up. But at the same time i am very impatient that is why i am asking how long everyone waits cause i want to know the minimal amount of time i need to wait before i pull it. I also heat treat twice sometimes. One before i tiller and another at the very end right at the last few inches before full draw.

[Ryan Jacob]

Oh shoot! I think I hijacked this thread

[Selfbowman]

Yes Nasr I let them cool and shoot them . Most of my heat treating is done while I straighten the bow. Sometimes I will hit it again if I removed Quite a bit of wood during tiller. Arvin

[Nasr]

Yes Nasr I let them cool and shoot them . Most of my heat treating is done while I straighten the bow. Sometimes I will hit it again if I removed Quite a bit of wood during tiller. Arvin

you are a brave man! I would be too scared to do that.

[Selfbowman]

Done a 150 or so that way. Not saying waiting is wrong. Just saying I don't wait. Arvin

[Del the cat]

You heat treat the belly... it will be under compression so it won't explode...
But it does no harm to leave it overnight.
IMO main reason for leaving is that the wood could feel warm on the belly but still be hot under the surface, so it's just safer to leave it a couple of hours at least.
I'm an impatient git, and it's easy to undo your good work by rushing....
Del