Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Sidewinder on April 12, 2014, 11:39:57 am

Title: How to make heat adjustment to Yew?
Post by: Sidewinder on April 12, 2014, 11:39:57 am

Can anyone tell me how yew responds to dry heat. I have a pretty nice yew stave I traded for about 5-6yrs ago. I think I'm ready to make a bow out of it and it will need some side to side heat correction at one end.  I know the rule that dry heat on cured wood, steam heat on wet wood. I have only heat corrected osage and hackberry and was just curious if any of you yew boys had any good advise.   Danny

Title: Re: How to make heat adjustment to Yew?
Post by: Bryce on April 12, 2014, 12:18:09 pm

You can steam, boil and use dry heat on dry wood. It's all good. In your case I would just use the heat gun.

Title: Re: How to make heat adjustment to Yew?
Post by: Del the cat on April 12, 2014, 12:19:48 pm

Personally I'd go with steam.
If you use dry heat it may effect the sapwood.
I have no experience of damaging the sapwood with dry heat, but wouldn't want to risk it, as the sap wood is the bit that stops it going bang!
I will use dry heat for bends that go towards back or belly as I can just heat the belly and protect the sapwood.
For a sideways correction it can be jigged up with steam confined to the area that wants the heat and pressure applied in the direction you want. It can then be left steaming for ages.
Here's a post from my blog that shows what I mean... it's all about the preparation.
http://bowyersdiary.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/steam-bending-yew.html (http://bowyersdiary.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/steam-bending-yew.html)
Del

Title: Re: How to make heat adjustment to Yew?
Post by: Sidewinder on April 12, 2014, 01:52:18 pm

Pretty neat set up Del. Thanks to both you guys for your response. I'm most used to dry heat so I'll probabley go that way.   Danny

Title: Re: How to make heat adjustment to Yew?
Post by: Weylin on April 12, 2014, 01:53:17 pm

I agree with Bryce and Del. Steam is less risky and plenty effective for what you want to do but heat could work also. I've done both.

Title: Re: How to make heat adjustment to Yew?
Post by: wizardgoat on April 12, 2014, 02:48:01 pm

yew bends like rubber with steam or dry heat. if you use dry heat, brush on some oil

Title: Re: How to make heat adjustment to Yew?
Post by: Marc St Louis on April 12, 2014, 06:55:12 pm

I have used dry-heat on self Yew warbows with no ill effects.  I have come across some Yew that will not budge with dry-heat, very rare but they are out there.

Title: Re: How to make heat adjustment to Yew?
Post by: MWirwicki on April 12, 2014, 08:34:07 pm

A little lard or Crisco shortening works great for me.  Heat it up a little and wipe a bit on from the can on a papertowel and then wipe a bit on your yew belly.  It doesn't take much at all.  If you plan to sinew though, don't get any on the back of the bow, if you can help it.  Glue doesn't stick very well to it.

Title: Re: How to make heat adjustment to Yew?
Post by: Sidewinder on April 15, 2014, 06:27:50 pm

I like to use some leftover peanut oil from a fish fry we had a couple years back.  Danny

Title: Re: How to make heat adjustment to Yew?
Post by: bambule on April 17, 2014, 08:29:27 am

I treat Yew often with a heat gun. I always use oil when treating yew. My first attemps without oil ended up in heavy cracks. With oil I never had any problems.

Greetz
bambule