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Offline BowSlayer

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bending boards?
« on: September 28, 2013, 07:39:23 am »
hey everyone. i have a board of oak. the limbs taper from 1 1/4" @ the fades to 3/4" @ the tips. they are 10mm thick. i wan't to bend in some working curves into the end of the bow. have any off you done this on a board before? would you say dry heat or steaming is better? any advice and tips would be much appreciated. thanks :laugh:
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Offline PEARL DRUMS

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Re: bending boards?
« Reply #1 on: September 28, 2013, 08:40:52 am »
Dry heat and be ready for a crack, leave material to remove on the thickness. Id wipe a dab of veggy oil on it, helps slow down moisture loss and keeps it from scorching the wood. It will sand right off.
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Offline bushboy

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Re: bending boards?
« Reply #2 on: September 28, 2013, 09:22:18 am »
And I've been using this method lately with good sucess.wet down a cotton rag,heat gun it (don't over do it) ,flip the foil for a peek that there's good steaming action,then clamp it down,let it cool,remove foil and cloth and heat the tip so they are hot .I wouldn't try such a extreme cuvre like this with oak with this method.this is elm and it bends like butter!
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Offline BowSlayer

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Re: bending boards?
« Reply #3 on: September 28, 2013, 11:17:58 am »
how thick is that limb? looks like a good methord. ill need to make a form though. could i do this over a pan full of water on the stove covered with tin foil? i ask because.. i don't have a heat gun  :-\ thanks
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Offline bushboy

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Re: bending boards?
« Reply #4 on: September 28, 2013, 11:36:07 am »
The limb is bout 13.5mm(9/16").you could do it with steam,but you would have to get it clamped up very quickly!!!!! How were you planning on flipping the tips?torch,stove top?
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Offline BowSlayer

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Re: bending boards?
« Reply #5 on: September 28, 2013, 11:50:22 am »
im going to make a form like the one you have there. but use steam to heat the wood. if i do it this way do i still need to add oil?
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Offline bushboy

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Re: bending boards?
« Reply #6 on: September 28, 2013, 11:59:16 am »
Oil 4 dry heat I would think.
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Offline BowSlayer

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Re: bending boards?
« Reply #7 on: September 28, 2013, 06:34:09 pm »
cool thanks. has anyone else tried bending board bows before?
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Offline dbb

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Re: bending boards?
« Reply #8 on: September 28, 2013, 06:47:08 pm »
Yes,i and many more have.
I strongly suggest you set it all up beforehand and do a "dry" genrep so you have it all ready.
Makes it all easier that way.
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Offline BowSlayer

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Re: bending boards?
« Reply #9 on: September 28, 2013, 07:00:25 pm »
will do, thanks
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Offline bushboy

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Re: bending boards?
« Reply #10 on: September 29, 2013, 02:32:05 am »
Good catch jezze ,this was actually a piece of spaghetti !lol!
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Offline Cameroo

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Re: bending boards?
« Reply #11 on: September 29, 2013, 06:47:03 pm »
Bushboy, can I ask why you steam-heat with the towel, then allow it to cool, and then heat it directly with dry heat again? 
I've seen both methods used, but not together like that.
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Offline bushboy

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Re: bending boards?
« Reply #12 on: September 29, 2013, 07:01:40 pm »
Cam ,I heat treated only the recurve to lock it in.if it were a working part of the limb I'd be more concerned.
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Offline BowSlayer

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Re: bending boards?
« Reply #13 on: September 30, 2013, 08:40:13 am »
i have a question, before i do any reflexing of the tips do i need to tiller with a longstring first?
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Offline BowSlayer

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Re: bending boards?
« Reply #14 on: October 02, 2013, 09:43:12 am »
here is my first atempt at bending the board. steamed it for an hour. i do have one question how long do i keep it on the form? thanks.

 
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