Straightening cane choices

[TRACY]

I was looking around the internet and found several articles on straightening cane. Many talked about soaking seasoned(dried) in water for 12-24 hours and then using dry heat to straighten between the nodes and then alternating every other node to straighten the nodes. In my limited experience of straightening cane, I've just used dry heat between the nodes and so on with the nodes alternating. Does soaking the cane make it any easier to straighten? Is this a method that is better for atlatl darts only?

Thanks Tracy

[Hillbilly]

I don't see why you would need to soak it, I've made probably a couple hundred cane arrows, just use dry heat and it bends like butter. If I work to get materials dry, I don't really want to wet them again, especially when there isn't any need to. best sequence I have found is to straighten the sections between the nodes first, treating each one individually, then bend the nodes to line the sections up straight. I usually alternate from one end of the shaft to the other as I'm straightening to give the last bend a chance to cool down. I do exactly the same when making atlatl darts from bigger pieces. Seems like some folks just try really hard to overcomplicate things.

[Pat B]

I do similar to Steve.    Pat

[Papa Matt]

Sounds like it would be for Atlatl darts only, if that. Maybe it's helpful with atlatl darts because of their larger thickness, that they would be more difficult to straighten.

~~Papa Matt

[JackCrafty]

Some people just like to soak things...I guess.

You get the same results using steam (and much faster).  But all that is unnecessary. As Hillbilly said, dry heat (on dry cane) works fine.

[Hillbilly]

Some people just like to soak things...I guess.

same thing with people who soak dry hickory staves in the shower to get the cambium off easier.....never understood that one, it scrapes right off dry, and as hard as it is to get hickory dry around here, durned if I'm gonna wet it intrentionally.

[ahawi stick]

Ditto on the dry heat, I usually coat the cane with good ole crisco before heating although have used dry heat only with no ill effect, just be careful not to overheat and scorch an area on the shaft.

[markinengland]

I have found a steam iron good for straightening bamboo arrows. Rolling the shaft under the iron keeps the heat localised with no danger of scorching and very little moisture. Heat from a flame works very well but there is a very fine line between hot enough and scorched. Scorched usually equals broken!
Mark in England

[GregB]

Maybe weigh them down and stick them in the ocean for a few weeks and then give them a try...  Just kidding, just kidding!

What Hillbilly and Pat said is how I'm doing it. 

[mullet]

 I do what Hillbilly and Pat said, also. Greg, you forgot the Buffalo Pee.

[TRACY]

Well, monkey see monkey do. I have followed the advice from members here and do the same as you all. I'm gonna experiment with the iron and rolling idea that Mark suggested. I was curious in my search as to why you would want to add moisture after waiting for the moisture to decrease . I'm doing fine with the methods mentioned here and appreciate all the help and advice that members have contributed. Thanks Tracy

Mullet, does the Buffalo pee help and how do you get them to stand still and pee in the cup?

[Justin Snyder]

I do like Pay. I guess that would make sense after he showed me how at the Classic.  Justin

[JW_Halverson]

Not sure how ya get 'em to pee in the cup, but I know for a fact you do not wanna look 'em in the eye when they are doing it.  They get right testy I hear.

[RidgeRunner]

Tracy F :  Word of warning.
Don't use the wife's iron.
Some of the natural wax on the canes will stick to the iron.
It is hard to remove and the wife will be PO'ed.

And yes if you are wandering that is experience talking.

David

[GregB]

Buffalo Pee? I'm sure it could only help...