Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: BigWapiti on November 10, 2007, 01:08:02 pm
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I have a stave that I'm working, I really like the look of it, except - when I finally got it floor tillered to place a string on it, it took a shape where the string was crossing about an inch off center of the handle. This might have been while it was curing as I don't recall it being off so much when I first laid it out. I can see a couple of places where if I could get it to bend/reshape, it would work fine.
Can VM be bent using steam, or heat, or?
I'm actually trying my own approach now, not yet having a means of steaming. I've put the stave in my vice, protecting the back. wrapped a wet rag around it, with plastic around that, where I want to try to get a bend - then I have hung a bucket of weights off the limb in an appropriate location hoping I'll get it to do some reshaping. Nothing like trial and error innovation. :)
Gordon, am I correct in thinking I've heard you mention you've not had much luck trying to reshape VM? I recall reading something, but can't seem to find the post. Maybe I'm wrong...
Thanks,
Mike
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vine maple steamed well for me the two time I tried it as for something to steam with I use the wife's roasting pan with water and tin foil over everything gets good and hot in about 20 min. or a little longer when it was hot ti was like bending putty not hard at all. Tomm
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Ok, I might give that a try then -- this "wet rag" trick of mine isn't working, so far I got it to move a whole 1/8" (heheh) after having a lot of weight hanging on it for a week!! I guess that says something for VM anyway.
After you get it to shape, how long do ya let it dry up before working it again (tillering, etc)?
Thanks Tomm.
Mike
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BW,
You can use either steam or dry heat to correct the string alignment. Check out my hazelnut build-a-long for how I aligned the string. You can use the same technique for VM.
Gordon