Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Don Case on September 20, 2013, 07:20:19 pm

Title: Steaming and heat reating
Post by: Don Case on September 20, 2013, 07:20:19 pm
If I steam a bend out of a bow and then later want to dry heat treat it, will the bend come back? Heat is heat, right?
Don
Title: Re: Steaming and heat reating
Post by: bushboy on September 20, 2013, 07:46:54 pm
I read somewhere that if you steam in a recurve and dry heat it without it being clamped in place the recuvre will want to straighting out .I guess it would also act the same in reverse.this was the writing of a highly respected bowyer!
Title: Re: Steaming and heat reating
Post by: artcher1 on September 20, 2013, 08:03:17 pm
No, steam and dry heat aren't the same Don. Steam swells the wood's cells and dry heat shrinks the cells. For curves, if you steam, best to also dry heat later (in the same form) to permanently set the curve. This shrinks the cells as I mentioned, makes the curve stronger, but also reduces mass weight. The latter is important for this design. ......Art