60" Osage Sinew backed Recurve in progress

[Danzn Bar]

Wish I had taken some pictures of the stave I started with, it had an "S" curve at the end of one limb that I had no trouble removing with dry heat after getting the stave to just a little larger than bow dimensions.  Here is the form/caul I'm useing......and the steaming setup.
There is a hole in the bottom at one end and a bucket to catch the condensate.  I put the steamer in a soft side cooler to hold in the heat.
My wife gave me the steamer a few years ago it is from woodcrafters....works really good.

[Danzn Bar]

Pulled it out after about 45 minutes and it bent like butter didn't need use the metal strap for backing.....

[bubby]

Nice hook dbar!! Cool setup too

[Danzn Bar]

Remove it from the form after it cooled and put the other limb in the steamer..........after another 45 minutes it bent like butter also but raised a small splinter....I should have put a radius on the edges of the limb and it might not have raised a splinter.....but have plenty of wood.

[sleek]

Ok dbar, ima hafta get me a steamer now. How much was that thing?

[Knoll]

Good lookin' setups, Bill. But we wouldn't expect less from ya!   

[Danzn Bar]

Thanks Bubby!......I think this one will take me all winter, got some sinew to process, I'll try and show how I process sinew too...

Sleek,  got it about 5 years ago....$90 if I remember right...

Thanks Mike....

DBar

[Danzn Bar]

I'm bringing out some points to remember when steaming recurves....The first limb I rounded all the edges and it bent sweet...the second limb had sharp corners and it raised a small splinter......Another point is to start with a very straight (side to side) stave as possible.  I started with one limb very straight and the other with an "S" curve......  I straighten it before steaming with dry heat...  Steaming relaxes the wood deep into the limb where as I just got the surface relaxed and bent with dry heat.  Therefore when steamed the limb went right back to the way it was before dry heat straightening....It was crooked when I pulled it out of the steamer.....
Lessen learned for me is to take more time with a dry heat soaking to relieve the stress deep into the limb or start with a straight stave....

[osage outlaw]

That's looking great Bill.  Those are some nice hooks on that bow.  That splinter won't hurt a thing.  Once you thin the tips it will be gone.  Thanks for posting the progress pictures.  I like your steaming setup.

[Danzn Bar]

Yeah...got plenty of wood, and the steamer was a great present.....
DBar

[SLIMBOB]

Very cool set up!  I dont steam much, but I would if I had that, whether it needed it or not.

[Cloudfeather]

I love my steamer. Got it for about 45 bucks online. I just need to make me a steam tube like that and I'll really be singing.

[Danzn Bar]

I've got a 4" dia tube about 70" long for a whole bow....never used it yet...
DBar

[bradsmith2010]

wow thats cool, how can I go back to my pot with foil on the top,,wish I hadn't seen that  whew,,
really nice curves,, gonna be a nice bow

[Stick Bender]

That will be a nice bow , perfect size for a hunting ,looking forward to seeing more that is a nice steam set up good luck !