Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: youngbowyer on May 15, 2011, 11:19:04 pm

Title: dry heat vs steam heat?
Post by: youngbowyer on May 15, 2011, 11:19:04 pm

I'm building my first recurve bow out of yew. My tips are not going to be extremely recurved but just a bit to give it some extra speed and power. What would you guys recomend, steam or dry heat?

Title: Re: dry heat vs steam heat?
Post by: Timo on May 15, 2011, 11:33:18 pm

Steam for green wood, heat for dry wood.

Title: Re: dry heat vs steam heat?
Post by: cowboy on May 15, 2011, 11:35:13 pm

Ditto what Tim said. Rule of thumb..

Title: Re: dry heat vs steam heat?
Post by: johnston on May 15, 2011, 11:43:02 pm

See above.

Lane

Title: Re: dry heat vs steam heat?
Post by: Del the cat on May 16, 2011, 11:42:42 am

I've used both on Yew with success, to me the advantage of steam is you won't overheat the wood, but you've gotta be damn quick clamping it to a form.
The advantage of dry heat is you can shape and temper at the same time.
Use which ever is easiest, most convenient and the method you feel happiest with.
My big mistake is always working the bow too soon after heat treatment... leave it 3 days to be really safe, certaily no less than two, unless you like doing the work all over again!
If the stave has been roughed out and you use dry heat, protect the sap wood with a couple of layers of masking tape and duct tape, don't want to risk scorching that lovely creamy sap wood.
Del