Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: sonny on April 07, 2010, 09:39:01 pm

Title: straightening ERC heartwood
Post by: sonny on April 07, 2010, 09:39:01 pm
 I have a nice ERC bow blank that's been setting around for some time. I put a few hours into shaping it, preparing to sinew back it only to find that it has warped in the narrowed handle section...enough that the string would likely fall outside of the handle AND enough that it drives me crazy.
I've tried the heatgun in an attempt to straighten it in the handle. Seems like I even tried steam (but it's been a while? such that I don't recall.)
Frankly I don't know what else to try.....


BTW, I've had trouble bending ERC heartwood in the past, once while trying to flip the tips, so it seems that it's at least difficult and perhaps impossible to bend......

     
Title: Re: straightening ERC heartwood
Post by: Jmilbrandt on April 07, 2010, 11:16:19 pm
I have bent erc heartwood a couple times. They were mild bends and I used dry heat, it was difficult though.
Title: Re: straightening ERC heartwood
Post by: Stickhead on April 08, 2010, 10:34:52 am
Same story here.  I've been able to flip the tips a tiny bit with steam, but that's about it. 
Title: Re: straightening ERC heartwood
Post by: yazoo on April 08, 2010, 01:13:41 pm
the cedar much to brittle to bend very much