Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: bjrogg on December 07, 2016, 07:32:04 am
-
I see all the nice hooks and flipped tips on so many bows posted here but I just seem to have a hard time getting very much bend out of my HHB. So far I have only used dry heat wondering if steam would be better. Just hoping some of you guys that use HHB might be able to give me a few tips or is this the nature of the beast. Thanks
Bjrogg
-
Use steam if your trying to put hooks in, BJ. If you have time, Id just grab some scrap pieces and practice a few bends. Get a feel for how long to steam and such. Dry heat should do anything else you want done to HHB. If your struggling you probably aren't heating it enough.
-
I've bent hhb w/ steam lots
-
Thanks Pearl it's the hooks I'm struggling with. I can get the smaller bend no problem but haven't had very good consistent results with dry heat for the sharp bends
Bjrogg
-
Thanks Upstate, look like I'm going to have to put a pot on the burner and do some experiments
Bjrogg
-
I had no luck bending HHB with dry heat. Next time I'm using steam
-
Keep us posted BJ, i've got some HHB that would be nice to do some bends on.
-
I will do that Jackson, Santa's workshop has been useing up the midnight oil lately trying to get a bunch of stuff done. There's only one elf but he's got some plans for experimenting
Bjrogg
-
Jackson here's a quick update. I did a little experiment last night. The steam worked much better but I can see now that I need to modify my caul. When I get a chance I'm going to make some changes and try it again. So far it looks much more promising.
Bjrogg
-
HHB can be tricky to bend even with steam. Even with careful preparation and long steam time I have had recurves splinter. I prep the tips by shaping them into a shallow D section, on the belly side of course, following 1 growth ring and sanding the edges. I also always use a band with HHB. A splintered recurve can be fixed with an overlay but it is such a pain in the A$$
-
Thanks Marc, I haven't done a real lot of sharp bending yet but the little I've done seems kinda unpredictable. I might get a nice bend on one tip then flip the bow over and the other end just doesn't seem to want to move. I do realize I need to rig up a better caul system and band. For a band I'm wondering if I went with something with a little spring to it. I use to have some 1/8" spring steel that would probably be good.
Bjrogg
-
Jackson I took Marc's advice and went with more of a D profile on the tips, steamed them at a good boil for 1 hour. I had my caul and clamps all ready. I had a pair of leather gloves put bow on caul and lined it up good then kinda slowly let it bend into shape. I could feel it giving in not sure if I could have just quickly bent it but I'm very happy how it worked. I also toasted the belly so far I really like how this stave is coming along other than the handle area. I might have to rasp it down and glue something else onto it. Good Luck with your HHB I really like it for a bow wood but I never had the chance to get hooked on the yellow stuff yet.
Bjrogg
-
Here is the toasted belly you can see where I started at edge of steamed area the steam lifts the grain some.
Bjrogg
-
That is looking good BJ!
-
Thanks Osage I think I might be getting the hang of this. I did a nice one for my granddaughter to that really shot nice. Kinda getting excited about this one
Bjrogg
-
Looks sweet so far. Keep us updated ;)
-
I posted this bow yesterday titled Silent Night. It was the first bow I steamed recurves in and I learned a few things. One tip that I thought I'd share. My kettle had a aluminum lid and I cut two slits in it a little wider than my bow. I bent lid up flat between slits to make a slot for bow to fit in. Now I can put my lid on tight. I still put some aluminum foil over top but this really helps keep the steam where I want it.
Thanks for all the tips
Bjrogg
-
That looks pretty good!!!The form used to get the bends you got on your bow look pretty good too.
Usually I use aluminum foil then I put a towel over top of the foil too thinking it can hold the heat a little better yet.Radius the belly nice like you did.Most times if I can get at least 1/2" thick or 9/16" thick at the bend it holds after tempering it.
Steam bending hickory sharply can be challenging too.Darn near impossible with dry heat.
-
I like that slit in the lid thing. Does the hot metal from the pot scorch the belly? I always rest the bow on a wet towel.
-
Thanks Upstate. No the kettle doesn't scorch the wood at all. I don't think it gets any hotter than the steam as long as it has water in it.
Bjrogg
-
PS the wood in the kettle isn't actually a bow stave it's just a chunk of wood I used for taking picture
Bjrogg
-
Nice. I gotta go find me a similar pot. Garage sale season is just around the corner!
-
You're not alone. I've never been able to get the big hooks bent. Looks like I should just be boiling and steaming a little longer.
Bows looking good. Can't wait to see her finished!
Tattoo Dave
-
Dave with this HHB sometimes even after hour it just doesn't feel like it wants to go. Lately I turn heat up about the last 10 minutes and really get it boiling good. Since I've done this they bend. Like Marc. and Dbar said round off belly side of tips in a d shape.
Bjrogg