bending osage

[bluejack]

This is going to sound kind of silly but here goes anyway ! I met a fella @ ETAR a few years ago that told me he heats osage to be bent in a microwave oven. He said he cut a hole in both sides and slides the bow into the area to be bent, stuffs a rag around the holes and in 30 sec`s  he can bend or twist any way he desires. Don`t know if he was full of IT or not. Anyone on here ever hear of this ?? Thanks, bluejack  (doesn`t sound real primitive does it)

[bubby]

You can definitely do it that way

[superdav95]

I might be more concerned with any escaping microwaves.  If it’s safe to do though I suspect it could work well.  I suspect that thorough heating of wood internal wood fibers may be the benefit.  Patients with a good heat gun would be same results.   

[Pat B]

Eddie Parker(Mullet) did that just like you described.

[bjrogg]

Eddie Parker(Mullet) did that just like you described.

Yup my first thought was Eddie. I know that is exactly how he does it.

Bjrogg

[Selfbowman]

I would like to watch that from about 10 ft away. Can you bend say a handle section? Some Oklahoma guy told me that years ago. Just never had the gonads to try it.🤠

[Eric Krewson]

I was once a serious duck decoy carver and have dried green tupelo gum blocks in a microwave. You have to be careful on larger pieces, the outside will look fine but the inside may be charcoal, the wood burns from the inside out.

Thinner bow limbs shouldn't be a problem, my friend Bud has used microwave for years to heat and bend osage.

[bluejack]

Maybe that`s how the Indians did it !!!

[Selfbowman]

I bet them Indian ladies would have loved to have a microwave.🤠 I bet those bow makers of the day would have loved to have a bandsaw also. But they did not have to deal with idiots till the white man got here.

[bjrogg]

I would like to watch that from about 10 ft away. Can you bend say a handle section? Some Oklahoma guy told me that years ago. Just never had the gonads to try it.🤠

lol I seem to remember a thread about this subject and were a few speculating that Eddie’s might glow.

Bjrogg

[osage outlaw]

I would like to watch that from about 10 ft away. Can you bend say a handle section? Some Oklahoma guy told me that years ago. Just never had the gonads to try it.🤠

My gonads are the reason I'm not going to cut a hole in a microwave and use it.  I don't want any important parts getting nuked.

[bluejack]

Maybe Eddie`s the guy I talked to @ ETAR- I just tried it on a scrap piece-works like a charm.

[Hamish]

Yes, but how are your gonads?

[Will B]

LOL Hamish!