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O.K. I need help !...bending wood

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Justin Snyder:
I have had good luck with dry heat and with steam. Use a heat gun on high and hold it about 4 inches from the wood.  Keep moving it back and forth across the area you want to bend.  After a few minutes of this the wood should bend with minimal effort.  I like to clamp one side of the bend before heating. Then clamp the other after it is hot.  I found with the guava I got from you, that it has to be super smooth before you put dry heat to it, or it will scorch.  I don't see why the metal bands wont work with dry heat. But if you heat it well enough, it probably wont be necessary.  Justin

Badger:
Manny, if the bow is not complete, try to give yourself an unviolated ring on the belly side when you make the bend, I have had some problems trying to bend the guava stav you sent me, steam seemed to work better on it, but osage will bend easily if it is hot enough, just don't push too hard till it is ready, osage will get very soft and bend easily. I make some pretty tight bends on osage without a support strip but they are safer to use. Steve

NOMADIC PIRATE:
I guess I'll venture into the steam bath :D.........one more question I already glued the overlays, will the heat even if not direct mess with the glue ?

Steve, to follow one ring on the belly of Guavas would probably drive me toinsanity, or at least take 10 years out of my life span ;D


Justin, that's how I've being doing it with the gun, still always got some cracks ::)

Pappy:
I bend a lot of Osage and Hickory.With Osage I steam it first if it isn't over a couple of years old
and then use dry heat after that to tweak it or flip the tips.If it is over 2 years I just use dry heat.
If you steam old Osage it will check sometimes.I do usually leave the last 6/8 in. a little heavy if I plan on turning them ,sometimes I will get some pull ups or cracks but they will scrape out.On Hickory I haven't had much luck on the tips with dry heat but always use it to straighten and interduce back set with good success.I oil it first with cooking oil at least with Hickory.I tried steam with white wood and it always seems not to hold as well or go back in a day or 2 to where it was.
As far as glue and heat I use TB3 and have done a couple after putting on overlays and didn't
have a problem but I would guess you are taking a chance. :)
   Pappy

George Tsoukalas:
I grease it up. Heat it with a heat gun until it is too hot to touch and then bend it in my vice. Sometimes I need 2 or 3 sessions to get the reflex I want. Jawge

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