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Help with heat corrections on osage. /. Updated

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bentstick54:
Most of the bows I’ve made have needed some heat corrections, and I’ve always tried to make all corrections on an entire limb at the same time. Sometimes I would have to hit an area a second time to get things where I wanted them.
I’ve started roughing out one now, in between honey do’s, and one limb has some sideways snake, some front to back snake, and some twist. I know I can’t get all the side snake out, but my question is, how many times can you heat the same area in order to make corrections without damaging the wood? I’m assuming I would have to stabilize previous corrections so they don’t pull out back to their original shape? And if one limb needs a lot more correction than the other limb, does the extra heat needed to correct that limb make any difference  between the two limbs, or does it all balance out in tillering? All corrections being done at close to floor tiller.

bentstick54:
Photos

Muskyman:
had one similar to yours. I did mine with steam. A wallpaper steamer with my bow in a downspout. One limb at a time. Laid it on a piece of melamine and traced out the limb and marked the spots I wanted to bend. Then drilled holes where the clamps would go for the corrections. I think I steamed it for about an hour then took it out of the downspout and clamped it. If I remember correctly I did each limb in one go. I had pictures of it when I did it but can’t find them now. I did find a couple before and after pictures.

Here is it before and after the steam bending. This might not help you much but I’ve had better luck with steam.

Selfbowman:
Well you have your work there Bud.🤠🤠 But yes I go back to the caul with a heat gun many times on my bows. Osage can take it if you don’t scorch the wood. I usually leave my thickness at about 5/8” thick on the first straighten session. If a lot of heat happens then most all that wood comes off anyway.I lay them on there sides on a flat bench and shim to make the side adjust to its correct position. Then go to the caul for my front to back correction . Then back to the bench on its side and back to the caul. Sometimes 5-6 times. For me the heat bench is where the good bow lives.

Selfbowman:
Well done Muskyman!!!

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