Bending ERC

[Swampman]

Does anyone have experience bending ERC?  I am working on an ERC self bow and I have a string alignment issue.  Anyone with ERC experience know the best way to get ERC to move?

Thanks.

[Jakesnyder]

I actually just bent some and lifted a splinter on both tips. I steamed it for 15 min and bent slow. You cant make real sharp bends with it. At least I couldnt.

[bjrogg]

Haven't tried it. I'm thinking upstate has. 15 minutes doesn't seem like very long for steaming. I usually go 15 minutes for every quarter inch of thickness. Half again that much for poorer bending woods like HHB.
Bjrogg

[Swampman]

Thanks for the input.  I will try steaming and see what happens.  I don't need to move it very far so hopefully it will go alright. The string goes across the handle about 1 inch off center.

[upstatenybowyer]

Best outcomes I've had have come from boiling or steaming for at least 20 minutes per 1/4 inch. ERC does not like to bend with heat. I'd try to bend as far as you can past where you want it, knowing it'll inevitably spring back significantly.

Whenever I plan and ERC bow I always leave as much width as possible out to the tips so I won't have to rely on heat to adjust alignment.

[Swampman]

Thanks upstate.  I thought this stave would align just fine according to the strong I used before I started tillering.  However there is some prop twist with more in one limb than the other and I believe this is causing the alignment issue.  It really surprised me when I braced it.

[upstatenybowyer]

Ahh, I can see how that would happen. Surprises around every corner. Wishing you the best of luck!

[simson]

I don't remember making an ERC selfbow, but some backed: http://primitive-bows.com/tag/erc/

ERC responde good on steaming and also on dry heat with the heat gun, so your string alignment shouldn't be a big problem.
Good luck!

[gutpile]

dry heat for minor corrections..if bending recurve I boil 15 min per 1/4 of thickness.. ..pull bow from water and bend immediately all at once..clamp...gut

[Swampman]

Well, I tried dry heat, steam and boiling of the limb I wanted to move and that limb did not budge.  Tonight I decided to try and move the other limb even though that limb was nice and straight.  I was successful in moving that limb 3/4 of an inch with dry heat.  I finally have the string lined up where I need it.  I sure am glad I didn't need to move anything more than I did because ERC does not like to move.  Now I can get back to the adventure of tillering.

Thanks for everyone's input.

Mike

[bradsmith2010]

Yes that is always an adventure

[Bob Barnes]

for what it's worth... I just finished tillering a rocky mountain juniper bow... very similar to ERC... I found out quickly to just use a sanding block for the last several inches of tillering. 

[ohma2]

BOb is right get rid of the rasp and files early it is so soft it takes deep tool mark . Scraper and sand paper are safer.

[Swampman]

Thanks Bob and Ohma.  I did switch to send paper last night.  I started using a file and I felt the file was taking way too much wood.  I will definitely stick to sandpaper the rest of the way.