Microwave heatbending

[Chris3kilo]

So I know this isn't very primitive and it sound unbelievably unhealthy to me. But I'm having a real hard time heat bending recurves to my bows, hazel primarely, so I'd love an easier method to do this than my stupid heatgun.
I saw this one guy write that he'd drilled 2 holes in a microwave and stuck his bow in there to heat it up to a bendable state. Does anyone here have any experience with that?

[FilipT]

I think it will roast the wood, or make it too dry

[bubby]

Yes several guys use this method, i have used it to bend short pcs i wrap it in a wet rag. I don't have any experience with hazel but it should bend with steam, you need to recuce the tips to about 1/2" i fill a pail with water and once it gets to steaming i put the tip in the water and steam/boil it for half an our or so

[Chris3kilo]

I don't know stalker. Look at this vid. He leaves it to soak for some time before hand. Looks pretty proffesional to me https://m. youtube.com/watch?v=nwTFw8Ol2o4

[JoJoDapyro]

Yep, Mullet does it.

[Chris3kilo]

Havn't tried boiling the tips yet, but that sounds like a great idea to get uniform heat to all the layers in the tips. And ir sure sounds alot healthier than microwaving. However 30 minuttes is a long time compared to 1,5 min. as the guy in this video uses. 

[wizardgoat]

Get the bow braced and bending to 18-20". Leave the last 6-10" a little stiff, then boil for 25-30 min.

[DC]

Havn't tried boiling the tips yet, but that sounds like a great idea to get uniform heat to all the layers in the tips. And ir sure sounds alot healthier than microwaving. However 30 minuttes is a long time compared to 1,5 min. as the guy in this video uses. 

Steam is steam whether it's from a stove or a butchered microwave. If 28.5 minutes means that much to you

[Chris3kilo]

Well it does. I live in the city and my dad lives in the forest with a outdoor workspace where I work on my bows. It's a 30 minutte drive so i wanna make the most out of the time there

[mikekeswick]

If you chase a ring on the belly,boil 30 - 45 mins then bend them you won't have a problem. Hazel steam bends beautifully.

[Chris3kilo]

Allright thanks!

[Badger]

  Steam is the most reliable method, just make sure you are all set up and ready to go the second it comes out. Go through a dry run before you steam to make sure you have it down. I have run into a lot of osage I couldn't bend with dry heat while most of it bends pretty well, I now just use steam for full recurves and dry heat for gentle bends.

[Chris3kilo]

I'll try boiling. Maybe it isn't worth saving 28min. microwaving if my future kids are gonne have 2 heads and stuff from all the microwave rays gettin out the holes

[arachnid]

I put the tip in water for 24hr and then steam over my stove for 30-45 min. Yea it's not very fast but I've bent some recurces on board bows with iffy grain on thr sides. Bends like a wet noodle.

[Pappy]

Eddie Parker[Mullet] uses a microwave a lot, of course he can't remember anything, don't talk all that well , is shorter than he use to be and bald headed just to mention a few of his problems.
 Pappy