Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: bluegill68 on November 02, 2012, 03:06:43 pm

Title: Vine Maple Stave
Post by: bluegill68 on November 02, 2012, 03:06:43 pm

Friends,

I have a Vine Maple stave that I received a decade ago. It is crooked to say the least and will need a pile of straightening. My question is should I be looking at the steam tube or the heat gun? both?

I have never worked this species before.

Thanks for the guidance

Sean

Title: Re: Vine Maple Stave
Post by: sharpend60 on November 02, 2012, 03:55:08 pm

I have had better luck with steam.
I actually sorta boil. Works better for me.

I dont like to manipulate the wood much so I go for high impact, big changes.

Title: Re: Vine Maple Stave
Post by: Shaun on November 02, 2012, 04:23:09 pm

I've had good luck with dry heat, much better manipulation than expected. Stuff I worked with was more like 2 or 3 years dry.

Title: Re: Vine Maple Stave
Post by: doulosparachristos on November 02, 2012, 04:52:42 pm

I haven't use the dry heat yet with VM, however, Im working a stave now that was pretty crooked; it was easily workable with steam.

Title: Re: Vine Maple Stave
Post by: Gordon on November 02, 2012, 05:11:07 pm

Vine maple responds well to steam. You can also bend it with dry heat, but you have to go very SLOWLY.

Title: Re: Vine Maple Stave
Post by: Bryce on November 02, 2012, 07:58:24 pm

Steam works good on the kinky parts, but if it just needs a little straightening and I'm feeling a little lazy ill use dry heat. Good results with both.

Title: Re: Vine Maple Stave
Post by: dmenzies1950 on November 02, 2012, 10:45:13 pm

I agree with Bryce, Both work well. I'm lazy, I use the heat gun when I can get by with it.  Dale 

Title: Re: Vine Maple Stave
Post by: bluegill68 on November 03, 2012, 12:59:47 pm

Thanks for all the replies. I will post pics of the stave when I return home. I may use the steamer to get the major kinks out then use the heat gun for finesse.

Sean