Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Gaust on December 11, 2013, 09:24:06 pm
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For those who have worked with hackberry, a question: Can you bend this wood with dry heat after rubbing with vegetable oil, or is it better to use steam?
George
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You should check this out.
https://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,31738.0.html
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Arrowind, thanks for the link. I wanted to straighten this stave I'm working on to reduce its deflex limbs. I'll be sure and round off the edges prior to bending. But that build along makes me ask another question: Is it recommended that you toast a hackberry belly, even if it's 1 7/8" inches wide? I did not think I needed to.
George
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That seems wide. I bet you could get away with it but toasting it would be playing it safe with possibly better results
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Heat treat the belly and that's not to narrow
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Arrowind, thanks for the link. I wanted to straighten this stave I'm working on to reduce its deflex limbs. I'll be sure and round off the edges prior to bending. But that build along makes me ask another question: Is it recommended that you toast a hackberry belly, even if it's 1 7/8" inches wide? I did not think I needed to.
George
sure. I have not used hackberry so I won't attempt to comment on what is best dry heat or steam. I usually go by a general rule though - for big bends use steam for mild bends dry heat (it's faster and you have more control). Anyway I'd say you'd be fine either way.... As for toasting, you really don't HAVE to toast anything ever if you don't want to. It is just one more thing you can do to add performance. I just started heat treating my bows earlier this year and will definitely continue. I personally really like the results. It's not so much about the width. If I understand your question correctly - are you asking - If it's wide enough then heat treating isn't needed - or is it? correct? You don't need to heat treat but if you do you will most likely be glad you did....
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I've found that steaming hackberry turns it to rubber.
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Hackberry likes to be steam bent,.. or rather, it loves to be steam bent. :) Yes, rounding the edges before bending is a good idea. This wood really is fantastic for steaming recurves.
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Dry heat is great, leave the oil on your shelf. Keep all that width you can, that isn't too wide. I highly suggest tempering it as well.
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+1 PD. Dry heat , no oil (its just easier since you don't have to clean it off), keep your width, temper, temper. Surprisingly good bow wood if treated properly.
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Thanks all for your replies. What do you think about cantilevering 3/4 of each limb off the table with a weight hanging off the end and then applying dry heat to have it bend gently. I think I can eyeball it till it straightens out. It won't take much, each has about a 3" deflex right now.
George
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I wont make an even round bend, it will "kink" it odds are.
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ive made my share of hack berry bows and ive found it to be alot stronger than some give it credit.it makes a great recurve and molly . ive used dry heat and steam and had great results with both.
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I'm going to try and post these photos of the stave so far.
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Put a chunk of 2 x 4 under your handle and clamp the tips down. Then temper it. It will give you about 1 1/2" starting reflex. No caul needed, unless you have one of course.
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Hackberry is rated as the most bendable wood in the U.S. and one of the most bendable woods in the world. With steam it will bend on a tighter radius than anything else. I never tried it with dry heat beyond reflexing.
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If I were you I'd kill two birds with one stone and correct it and temper it all in one shot...only time I use steam is when I'm bending sharp string contact recurves....other than that its dry heat for everything else no matter what wood I'm using
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When tempering, are you burning the wood brown? Forgive me, but this new ground for me.
George
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Its not a burn, its a toasting. Turn your heat gun on high and hold it about 4" from the belly. When its turns a nice golden brown, move it down 1" and repeat until your at the end of the limb.
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I just finished a hackberry bow (plan to hunt with it tonight!). I was really impressed with the wood. Only 1.5 inches at the fades and 62 inches tip to tip, I heat tempered it right after floor tillering, and again when I was done - got it to 58# at 28 which I thought was a feat well beyond my skill level . . . in fact it is beyond my skill level for most wood but not hackberry.
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Okay. Got it straightened out at least. I'll wait a couple of weeks before I start final shaping and tillering, just to make sure it gets re-acclimated. In the meantime, I've got it clamped in a reflex position. I'll temper it again at the final stage.
George