Heat bending Dogwood?

[snedeker]

I have a stave that has 7" reflex.  I was figuring I'd do a bend through handle R/D.  Steam or dry heat?

Dave

[uwe]

Wet or dry?

[Pat B]

I've never worked with dogwood although I have a few staves. If the wood is dry and you use steam seal the stave with shellac so not to add more moisture to the already dry stave.   Pat

[snedeker]

the stave has been drying for 2.5 years

[sailordad]

you might not want to listen to me cause i am still fairly new to this

however ive been told,dry heat for bending dry wood,wet heat for wet wood. this advise has worked thus far for me.

good luck

                                                                 tim
                                                                               

[Kegan]

I use wet heat for beinging the bow side to side, and dry heat, whilst tempering the belly, for beinding the bow back and forth (from back to belly). Works for me at least.

[Ryano]

Dave it depends on how thick the handle section your wanting to bend is....Steam is much better for thicker pieces of wood. I wouldnt try to use dry heat on anything over 3/4" thick.

[snedeker]

THe reflex is really exagerated in the handle area, so i figure to go a touch under 3/4 there.  Probably use a heat gun

Dave

[Justin Snyder]

Lube it up with crisco and put the heat gun on it. 

[snedeker]

Another idea, since its particularly reflexed in the mid section, might be to do an inset handle style and bend deflex into the mid limbs

[Hickoryswitch]

I don't know bout anyone else but dogwood doesn't bend worth a crap for me with heat. I had to steam mine to get it to bend. I steamed mine multiple times with Crisco on it and it seemed to pick up very little moisture.