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bending hop hornbeam

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bluejack:
This is my first try with HHB,looks like I`ll have quite a bit of bending and straightening to do. How does HHB react to dry heat(probably not as well as osage.) Thanks for help!!

bjrogg:
I guess it depends on how much you need to correct. I’ve made a quite a few from HHB. It’s a good bow wood but it is a little harder to work with than Osage when it comes to heat corrections and bending.

For static Recurves I use steam and boiling water. I leave it in the boiling pot for twice as long as Osage and it still bends harder. I also use a thin metal backing strip on the belly side of curve to help prevent lifting splinters.

For normal heat corrections I use dry heat . It seems to take more than Osage to get it moving and it seems to give up more of what you got than Osage. I usually go a little past with HHB.

It loves a good heat treatment though and I love the smell of heated HHB in the morning. Or any time of day.

Do you have any pictures?

I play with some pretty crooked Osage, but honestly when it comes to HHB I prefer nice clean and straight.

Bjrogg

Pat B:
Bluejack, will you post pics of your stave so we can make a more educated judgement and suggestions.

bluejack:
Sorry guys, I don`t know how to do pictures,but it has considerable propeller  in each limb and also need some straightening after trying to correct twist. Can`t find a straight HHB tree on my property. I should have asked before going as far as I did.  I`ll probably continue with it and see what I end up with. Wish me luck!!

Will B:
Good luck Jim. I have a stave from that tree you gave me awhile back with several twist also… so I hope you are successful. If so I will give mine a go.

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