Heat Temper

[Pat B]

If it is already glued up the heat treating will cause the glue to release. To heat treat a backed bow you would have to pre-tiller the belly, heat treat it then do your glue up.
   Also, hickory is hygroscopic, meaning it picks up and releases moisture quite readily. By using a water based glue, you have added more moisture to the wood. If you have a hot box you can speed up the drying process.        Pat

[JackCrafty]

Sorry about the advice on heat tempering the back of your hickory bow.  Pat B and Pappy have lots more experience than I have.

I've made a short hickory bow with a lot of heat-induced reflex in the handle.  The reflex was "pulling out" during tillering until I hit the back of the handle with the heat gun.  Of course, I didn't heat it as much as the belly.  It made a significant difference.  The handle is "bendy" and I haven't seen any cracks or heard any "snapping" sounds from the handle after about 200 shots.  It might just be a fluke?  It might be that my piece hickory is so strong that the weakening hasn't affected the bow?  I dunno....but I'd play it safe and listen to the guys with experience.   

[Justin Snyder]

Patrick, sounds like you probably didn't heat treat it, just lowered the moisture content.  Heat treating the back is dangerous at best.  Justin