Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: arachnid on March 31, 2016, 04:31:59 pm

Title: How Long do you wait after steam bending?
Post by: arachnid on March 31, 2016, 04:31:59 pm

Hi Guys!

I just got my FIRST sucssesfull steam bending. It`s a white oak board. I soaked the last 6" in water over night
and steamed it for about an hour. Bent it on a recurve form and it went well.
Now, the questions are:
1) How long should I keep it clamped to the form? I want to use the same form to recurve the second limb.
2) How long should I wait before bracing and drawing/shooting the bow?

Thanks.
Dor

Title: Re: How Long do you wait after steam bending?
Post by: bubby on March 31, 2016, 04:34:13 pm

I will steam both statics the same day so 24 hrs should be good

Title: Re: How Long do you wait after steam bending?
Post by: DC on March 31, 2016, 04:36:09 pm

24hrs :D

Title: Re: How Long do you wait after steam bending?
Post by: arachnid on March 31, 2016, 04:50:36 pm

24h to remove out of the form or to brace and draw?

Title: Re: How Long do you wait after steam bending?
Post by: PatM on March 31, 2016, 04:58:29 pm

I leave it for  about a week and let it thoroughly dry.

Title: Re: How Long do you wait after steam bending?
Post by: wizardgoat on March 31, 2016, 05:36:13 pm

I leave them clamped until it's cooled completely.
Wait about a week before any serious bending.

Title: Re: How Long do you wait after steam bending?
Post by: Pat B on March 31, 2016, 05:56:48 pm

It will cool completely over night so you can remove from the form.  I'd wait at lease 3 or 4 days or more depending on your local R/H . You soaked the wood first so there is probably a bit more moisture that has to be released. Be sure the back is sealed well.

Title: Re: How Long do you wait after steam bending?
Post by: Marc St Louis on March 31, 2016, 09:31:23 pm

I leave it for as long as it took to steam then give it some dry heat to set the bend

P.S.  Just to clarify, the dry heat must only be used while the bow is still clamped or else much of the steamed recurve will straighten itself out

Title: Re: How Long do you wait after steam bending?
Post by: Gordon on April 01, 2016, 12:46:14 am

I do like Marc does, steam, wait for 24 hrs, use dry heat to set and then wait another 24 hours.

Title: Re: How Long do you wait after steam bending?
Post by: Stick Bender on April 01, 2016, 04:19:42 am

I did my last one just like Mark sugested & I got zero spring back out of the form but also shellaced the tips after as the stave was still young. I waited 3 weeks before bending .

Title: Re: How Long do you wait after steam bending?
Post by: Pappy on April 01, 2016, 07:13:53 am

I do like Marc and Gordon, had good luck doing them that way. :)
 Pappy

Title: Re: How Long do you wait after steam bending?
Post by: arachnid on April 01, 2016, 07:41:11 am

How long do you heat the recurve to set it?

Title: Re: How Long do you wait after steam bending?
Post by: Marc St Louis on April 01, 2016, 08:19:07 am

Quote from: arachnid on April 01, 2016, 07:41:11 am

How long do you heat the recurve to set it?

Till the colour changes to brown