recurves over a knot. Updated. FD

[Aksel]

Hello, I am working on a yew flatbow. 63" long. It has a natural even deflex through out its length of 2.5 - 3 inches. I think it would be a perfect stave to steam in some recurves on. But it has a knot 6-7 inches from one end.

What do you all think? Any luck with recurves over a knot? or will it crack? Dry heat or steam? I like to imagine steam is my friend. Will steaming it 1+ hour help?

[Pat B]

I've never recurved over a knot but I think steam would be the way to go. Where on the tip is the knot, centered in the limb, on the edge, ?
 Pics would help

[Hamish]

pics +1.

If it was me, I would leave extra wood around the knot(width), before bending, even if you intend it to be static. I would use steam or direct boiling, not dry heat.

[Kidder]

I’d avoid it altogether by making shorter recurves. Start them right past the knot and you have less to worry about.

[Aksel]

I was planning to make a working recurve from this bow, but maybe that is asking too much.

1,4" wide at the knot.

Knot sits 6" from tip.

[superdav95]

I’d avoid it altogether by making shorter recurves. Start them right past the knot and you have less to worry about.

+1 on that for me.  I’ve done one very similar but not with a knot that big.  Mine cracked a little but only surfaces and when I worked it down below the crack it was fine.  Smaller static recurves might be the way to go and leave extra like around it like hamish said.  Best of luck.

[Del the cat]

I wouldn't try it... unless maybe on a scrap piece of Yew first.
I think it will compress ok round the knot on the back, but may just open up round the knot on the belly.
Maybe do it but add a thin belly overlay to help it hold up?
Del

[Aksel]

Good advice here. Thanks.

This piece of yew isn´t very precious so I think I´ll go ahead and try it as an experiment. I´ll steam it extra long and make the recurve as short as possible and see what happens.

[Aksel]

Update: I did follow the advice to not bend it over the knot, instead I gave it 30 mins steaming and recurved the tips right up to the knot. Probably too extreme recurves would have blown this bad piece of yew to pieces.  It took 2 small bottles of ca glue to fill the many drying checks and rotten growth rings and keep it in one piece through tillering. Not sure if it is ca glue or yew wood that is amazing, but i didn´t expect this to work out.

Was 2,5" deflexed originally. Recurves took that to 0,5" and I´m at 1" string follow at full draw @ 27"

53 lbs.

[Kidder]

Awesome! Nice bend.

[Pat B]

Yes, very nice bend, Aksel.   

[Del the cat]

We like to work a challenging stave of marginal Yew (well I do )
Looking good.
Del

[Aksel]

Thanks, yes this feels like a win.

I still need to put more glue in cracks around the nocks as I make them narrower.

 I´ll post some images later when the bow is finished.

[superdav95]

Nicely done.  Good save on that one.  Looks good on the tiller too. 

[Aksel]

Bow is finished:  62",  50lbs at 27"