restoring a bow left strung leaning against a fence for a year

[Woodbear]

This thread is to ask for your thoughts about restoring a bow was left out in the field braced and leaning against a fence for about a year. The bow is solid Ipe. The finish is quite weathered and crumbling but most of it is still there. The original set was only about 0.75”, but now stands at 3.75”…..
I can lightly sand and re-finish the bow. The question is if it is possible to remove the set? Dry heat might be able to bend the arms back to the original shape but I am not sure if this would restore the wood or further compromise the wood.

Thoughts on the subject are welcome.

Dave

[Del the cat]

I'd back it, after heating and straightening.
that would also give you a chance to take off the weathered and compressed/stretched outer surfaces.
Del

[Marc St Louis]

Dry heat will more likely ruin the bow

[Pat B]

I think leaning it leaning against a fence for a year ruined it.  Also, trying to adjust ipe with heat can be a problem.

[bradsmith2010]

I am just thinking out loud,, I have no experience with a bow like you have,,
but,, trying to make it like new might ruin it as stated,,
so,, what I would do is see if it can be drawn without breaking,,it you can draw the bow with out explosion,,
then I would re finish and leave as is,, shooting it for what it is,,

[George Tsoukalas]

You may be able to introduce some reflex in areas that do not bend like the tips and handle areas.

I would not spend much time on it though.

Jawge

[sleek]

Put a backing material on the belly, and redo the bow. Make the belly the back and use the set as reflex.

[bradsmith2010]

I didnt think of that,,

[willie]

Hi Dave

have you considered  a solution to reversing the long term accumulation of set (creep?),  by subjecting the bow to a year of some sort of "reverse" strain?
 

[PaSteve]

I second Sleeks idea. Interesting experiment anyways.

[bownarra]

No once wood has been compressed reversing it so the belly felt tension would cause it to break very quickly.
Adding a backing and removing belly wood would be the way I would go if I had to.

[Woodbear]

Thanks for the replies.

The bow has sentimental value, being my oldest that is still in one piece.
My thought is now that I will clean up the bow and see if it can still safely make full draw (25”), and if so, what the weight is.
From the replies, heat bending seems like a poor idea, so I will contemplate what if anything can be done later if it still makes full draw.

 It seems rather unlikely, but if anyone has actually successfully reversed set in a finished bow please do post the suggestion.

Dave

[Del the cat]

 It seems rather unlikely, but if anyone has actually successfully reversed set in a finished bow please do post the suggestion.

Dave

I have... and I did... it was the first answer you received
Ok, it was Hickory not Ipe.
https://bowyersdiary.blogspot.com/2013/03/big-bow-detail-and-hickory-challenge.html
https://bowyersdiary.blogspot.com/2013/03/hickory-challenge-result.html

I even allowed you an added safety margin by suggesting backing it...
In your original post, you didn't mention it was of sentimental value.
There are two real options... if you don't want want to take any risk... clean it and hang it on the wall.
On the other hand if you want to be able to shoot it, it's a no lose experiment, 'cos you've got to do something.
Del
PS. If you ask me a 3rd time.... the answer will still be the same 

[Sidmand]

You said it was Ipe right?  Ipe is incredibly rot resistant and nearly waterproof, it being a tropical wood.  If it hasn't been chewed on much by the local bugs then (if it were me) I'd try to back it with something like bamboo, pulling some perry reflex into it and then try to retiller it.  Ipe won't respond to heat, at least it has never moved for me with heat maybe someone else has some ideas there.

[DC]

I gotta ask . If it has sentimental value how did it wind up leaning against a fence post for a year? You don't have to answer