Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: radius on June 24, 2009, 09:31:35 pm

Title: bending yew: wet heat or dry?
Post by: radius on June 24, 2009, 09:31:35 pm

i got some yew staves now, and eventually i'll want to recurve some tips...is it safer with yew to use steam or dry heat? 

thanks

Title: Re: bending yew: wet heat or dry?
Post by: burn em up chuck on June 24, 2009, 10:53:16 pm

steam, just be careful don't crush the wood when clamping.

                                                 chuck

Title: Re: bending yew: wet heat or dry?
Post by: bigcountry on June 24, 2009, 11:36:47 pm

Quote from: radius on June 24, 2009, 09:31:35 pm

i got some yew staves now, and eventually i'll want to recurve some tips...is it safer with yew to use steam or dry heat? 

thanks

I used dry heat with yew.  But I was bending at the handle.  Its so dry anyway.  But recurving tips takes a lot of heat.  Not sure. 

Title: Re: bending yew: wet heat or dry?
Post by: adb on June 25, 2009, 01:17:51 am

Steam.

Title: Re: bending yew: wet heat or dry?
Post by: Gordon on June 25, 2009, 01:27:16 am

Definitely steam with yew.

Title: Re: bending yew: wet heat or dry?
Post by: ravenbeak on June 25, 2009, 03:55:08 am

i used to steam but i've switched to dry.

build a caul where you can hook the tip in and hang a small weight from the other end.  apply just enough heat to move it the amount you need.   saves alot of time steaming and waiting to lose the excess moisture.

i use steam for bending through the handle to align the tips

Title: Re: bending yew: wet heat or dry?
Post by: NOMADIC PIRATE on June 25, 2009, 04:18:59 am

I had pretty decent results with dry heat by clamping the tips and hanging weights, but you gotta make sure you get the bending done by applying heat to the sides,..... than when the banding as occured fix it by heating the belly, pretty safe this way

(http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d124/NorthShoreLB/008-1.jpg)

(http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d124/NorthShoreLB/007-4.jpg)

Title: Re: bending yew: wet heat or dry?
Post by: radius on June 25, 2009, 11:09:10 am

ok then, thanks everybody!

looks like we have a consensus:  both ways work