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Take out reflex of a stave?

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Aksel:
Hi, I have a narrow elm stave which unfortunately dried into a reflex of about 7-8" and I want to take it out and make the stave as straight as possible - how would you do it?

jameswoodmot:
I would be heat treating Elm anyway. I’d start by working down to a very rough blank, leaving full width. Maybe take the limbs down to about 3/4” thick. Then clamp to a form and go at it with a heat gun.
I would want to leave an inch or two reflex in it. I would probably not clamp it flat to the form straight away, rather heat and tighten the clamps as I went along.

If you look around for information on how to ADD reflex, you’ll get all the info you need and be able to apply that to take the reflex away

Aksel:
Any special reason you wouldn´t use steam?

willie:

--- Quote from: Aksel on March 06, 2025, 09:24:06 am ---Any special reason you wouldn´t use steam?

--- End quote ---

steam seems reasonable as my guess is that the back shrank more because it was wetter.

curious if the back was sealed before drying?  if not, forcing the moisture out thru the sides might make it dry more evenly next time.

Pat B:
Any heat source will work but for me dry heat(Heat gun) is more convenient.

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