Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: redhillwoods on August 02, 2019, 07:21:11 pm

Title: how dry before tempering?
Post by: redhillwoods on August 02, 2019, 07:21:11 pm

I split a green sugar maple log into staves today. What % moisture content should it get down to before heat treating/tempering with a heat gun?

Title: Re: how dry before tempering?
Post by: Pat B on August 02, 2019, 09:45:07 pm

Bow building dry. 9% to 11% M/C.  Tempering forces moisture out but too quickly for a green stave. You can strap the stave to a form in reflex and set it aside to dry and some of that reflex will remain when it's ready to work.

Title: Re: how dry before tempering?
Post by: bownarra on August 03, 2019, 12:29:58 pm

Very :)