A bending accident that came out great

[Eric Krewson]

I was bending some static tips on a newly designed form that just didn't work. I got out my old hickory form and redid the bend. About halfway though the bend my hickory form split, what to do?

I looked at the form and thought I can put the form sideways in my vise, the vise will hold the form together and bend the stave at the same time, I gave it a go.

Turns out this is a really good way to make the bend, tightening the vice jaws makes the bend and the vice pad puts all the pressure right where a bend usually cracks.

I haven't taken the stave out of the form yet but I expect great things and no cracks.

[DC]

Quick thinkin'

[Badger]

   That looks good, and that was quick thinking. I was just sitting here thinking how fast we have to move when making that bend. No time for mistakes.

[Eric Krewson]

The stave came out of the form in perfect shape except for a bit of sideways dog leg. I had soaked the tip for 24 hours in a pan of water prior to the bend on the advise from a bow maker friend who makes 50-75 bows a year, he says he rarely has a limb crack during a bend. I think he is on to something as 50% of my bends crack some with steaming alone.

The limb was still waterlogged so I corrected the sideways dogleg with my heatgun and my vise.

I have the other limb soaking and will bend it exactly the same way today.

 

[bubby]

   That looks good, and that was quick thinking. I was just sitting here thinking how fast we have to move when making that bend. No time for mistakes.

Steve I bought a garment steamer for a couple dollars at Goodwill, I put a plastic bag  over the area I want steamed and wrap tape around the bottom with the nozzle in it and start steaming. After a few mins I put it in the form while still steaming and when it's ready I bend and clamp, no hurry no worry, bends fast and easy and no rush because it steams the whole time