Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: oakfall on March 16, 2011, 06:57:35 am

Title: Heat vs. Steam
Post by: oakfall on March 16, 2011, 06:57:35 am

I want to flip the tips on my lastest HHB bow and I see most use heat. Steam would seem more effective. Yes?

Thanks,
oak

Title: Re: Heat vs. Steam
Post by: crooketarrow on March 16, 2011, 09:22:22 am

  Dry wood heat
  Green wood steam

Title: Re: Heat vs. Steam
Post by: Sidewinder on March 16, 2011, 11:58:42 am

What crooked arrow says is the conventional wisdom. I read a response to a post recently however by Marc St.Louis and he remarked to someone that was having a hard time getting one of the white woods ( don't remember which) to accept the bends and Marc said that he steams his recurve tips on white woods. You might search that and confirm it. I think it has to do with the short length of the tip and the white woods properties that makes it call for steam in that scenario. I know I had a bit of a prob with hickory accepting dry heat to create enough bend on some flipped tips. Osage responds well to dry heat amd bending.   I would PM Marc if I were you and confirm it before I did anything. He is very knowledgable and helpful. Danny

Title: Re: Heat vs. Steam
Post by: half eye on March 16, 2011, 12:52:29 pm

For what it's worth, I only use steam for my bending needs.
rich

Title: Re: Heat vs. Steam
Post by: osage outlaw on March 16, 2011, 03:09:15 pm

I tried using dry heat to flip the tips on a HHB bow.  The stave was at least 8 years old, so it was good and dry.  The belly cracked on it.  Now I am cutting it down and making a bow for my daughter out of it.  I think if I had used steam, it might have worked out better.  I wasn't even going for an aggressive bend.

Title: Re: Heat vs. Steam
Post by: IndianGuy on March 16, 2011, 04:10:39 pm

dry heat takes patience and practice, You could always use a little lard or grease with your heat as well.
Eric