Heat treating ?????

[Bohunter0908]

   Howdy Yall ,
I've been outta pocket for awhile new baby and work
life just gets busy . But I finally got a lil time to make some shavings
On a bow i started about 9 months ago got it pretty well finished
its not the prettiest but it is in 1 piece which is a great accomplishment
For me . Its a crepemyrtle self bow it came in a lil lite on draw weight
Its around 35# at 28" i was wondering if i heat treat the belly if it wil
increase the weight maybe get 40# @ 28" also has a good amount of string follow
Will heat treat help that any ? As always any input and info is greatly appreciated.
     Thanks,
   -Bo-
  LAPORTE TEXAS

[hunterbob]

I have taken one of my osage that came in under weight and flipped the tips and that gave it a jump in weight and another one that took set I reflexed the limbs about 3 inches and that also jumped in weight . I did have to tweak the tiller a bit. but it does work.

[Bohunter0908]

Thanks for the info i may try some reflex
Thatmaybe easier than heat treating
    Thanks again
   -Bo-
  LAPORTE TEXAS

[occupant]

I have heated all of my bows after tillering. I dont have a percentage of how much it increased the draw weight, but enough that I had to re tiller to get the weight back down into the range that I wanted. They have kept enough of the set back I put in, even after probably overdrawing, that none have string follow. I believe that it was Marc St. Louis's directions that I followed. The key is brown the belly slowly, not charcoal it.

[occupant]

I should also mention you dont want to heat the back. I accidentally did on one. I knew better, but thought I'd finish it and try it out anyway. Guess where it broke?

[Bohunter0908]

Thanks
Occupant i remember seeing or reading somewhere
About just browning the belly im gonna give it a try
hopefully it works im gonna try a lil reflex as well.
Thanks for the info always plenty of good help here
On P.A.

 -Bo-
 LAPORTE TEXAS

[Downeast]

OK Fellows,

The next obvious question is...what do you do with the scorched belly when finishing?  Sand off the brown?  Leave as is?  How do you clean it up for a clear finish?  When the treatment leaves a concave surface on the belly, do you flatten it out if you don't need further tillering?  Any help?

[occupant]

After tempering it, the draw weight will go up. I tiller the bow to the draw weight I want first, or even a little under, then heat it. I then re-tiller it back down to the draw weight I want, then finish it the same as any other bow. The belly will be darker with a scorched look to it permanently unless you remove a massive amount of wood from it, in which case you will have gone through the wood that was tempered and will have to do it again. I've never posted any pictures, but if you're still interested, I could take a few of what I'm talking about.

[blackhawk]

If its well tillered and you induce reflex when you heat treat it you can easily gain n keep ten pounds.