Osage Bow (that hopefully doesn't take 10 months)

[Eric Krewson]

Leave the reflexed limb as it is and match the deflexed limb to it.

[Marin]

Only problem with that idea is at the limb that reflexes kind of reflexes before deflexing near the tip. It makes an s curve of a sort. I don't think I can match it.

[Eric Krewson]

I didn't notice that anomaly but you are right it would be hard to match. You really need a simple form to bend both limbs the same on. A form would take out the deflex on the reflexed limb and add reflex to the deflexed limb.

Your form only needs to be as long as one limb on your bow and have a gentle arc dropping about 2 or 3 inches from one end to the other.

[Marin]

I tried to fix the delfexed portion today but it doesn't seem to work. I clamped down the very tip, the handle of the bow, and a portion a bit pass the mid limb before heating up a portion of the limb next to the tip with one of those small canister camp stove. I heated up this portion until it was too hot for one to even place their finger on for only a second and then I placed a clamp on it. I went up the limb and with my two remaining clamps did this at 2 other spots about 3 inches apart (maybe less) so that the entire deflexed tip was clamped down. I waited about 30 minutes for it to cool down and when I unclamped it, the limb still had its delfexed shape 
I covered the belly in canola oil so it wouldn't be scorched which seemed to work. Should I space the clamps out more or keep the heat on one spot longer. It felt like it took about a minute or so for the spot I was heating to heat up to the temperature I wanted before I clamped it and moved on?
Eric, is it possible to add reflex or recurved tips during or after tillering? I would just need to track down some wood to make a form which might take time and I'm already having trouble straightening the stave.

[penderbender]

Sounds like you didn't have enough heat. Heat the belly until the back is hot. It needs to be hot the whole way through. Not just the surface. Only a minute of heat didn't sounds like much. Keep your heat source about 4" away. Hope that helps. Cheers- Brendan

[Marin]

About how long do you guy heat your bows when bending them into a desired shape?

[penderbender]

Average about a 1 hour per inch. So if it's a 3/4 inch thick about 45 mins. That's steam from a pot of water boiling on high, with tin foil tented over top. But you can only do 8- 10 inches at a time. Or clamp it too a form and start heating on one end and clamp as you go leaving the heat gun or whatever on the same spot for a few minutes at a time and move it and tighten the clamp a little. So on and so forth until you ha e reaches your desired shape. It should take you 35-45 minutes per limb that way.Cheers- Brendan

[Marin]

Okay I tried to do what I did last time only I kept the flame on one spot for about 4 minutes, each time keeping the flame about 3 to four inches away. It definitely  felt like the heat went all the way through but when I unclamped it, the deflex was still there. What do you guys think I'm doing wrong?
Also, at one spot I was being sloppy and I accidentally scorched the wood, leaving a big black spot. It doesn't feel like charcoal (it still feels quite hard) but I tried using aggressive sandpaper to get it out and it goes down quite aways. The back at this section looks perfeclty fine so I know it didn't go all the way through. Do you guys think it should be fine?

[Marin]

 Is it possible that I didn't clamp it for long enough? I waited about half an hour for it to cool down before unclamping it. Could that be the issue?

[Stick Bender]

Marin PM me your address and I will send you a heat gun stop using the flame it could ruin the stave it could be there by tuesday !

[George Tsoukalas]

Marin,

Years ago  used to heat the wood on an electric range and then run to the basement to clamp it. That worked ok but not great.

Have everything ready.  Now I use a heat gun. First, I grease the belly. Bacon grease works. Second, I heat it until the back  is hot to the touch and then clamp it and let it cool.

Sometimes, I have to heat and clamp a few times.

Jawge

[Marin]

I've been clamping the tip into place and then heating before adding more clamps. I guess that's not what you guys do.

[Marin]

I remember reading a description of how Ishi would use heat it recurve his bows; he would take a hot stone and place the back of the bow on it and bend it in the direction he wanted. He then took the bow and place it over his knee,mcovered in a buckskin pad,mand kept bending it into shape until the shape held. Could I perhaps do something like this?

[George Tsoukalas]

Sometimes I heat it when it is in the clamps but I've already started it bending.
Jawge

[Marin]

What do you mean you've already started it bending?