birch bark question

[yazoo]

I have some birch bark , and its rolled up , how can I flatten it with out cracking it?

[JackCrafty]

How do you know it will crack?  Did you try bending a piece of it?

Birch bark is pretty pliable, but if it's really dry then you might want to dunk the whole thing in water (and soak it for an hour or so) before you flatten it out.  If you want it to stay flat, then put some rocks on top of it while it is drying on a flat surface.

[yazoo]

Its rolled up and very dry,

[DanaM]

You can try soaking it but I don't think its going to work as BB is water proof, thats why they used it for canoes.
If your going to back a bow with it you need to peel off a paper thin layer to use. Best to dry it flat when its fresh

[Marc St Louis]

Put it in hot water, the hotter the better

[yazoo]

thanks i will try the hot water, I think I got it from Marc st louis a few years ago on paleo planet,