Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Barefoot_Jake on December 30, 2013, 12:24:50 am
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Hey yall,
I have read on here before about propeller twists and that you can get them out with heat and a few staves I have look great besides the fact that they have a propeller twist in them! I tried using the search bar to find some post with pictures for the right technique of getting the twist out but could not find any. Could someone point me in the right direction for detailed instructions or photos of how to get rid of the twist, I don't want to go destroy a good stave.
Thanks
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PICTURES JAKE!!! >:D You'd be surprised what you can get away with.
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I've done a few build alongs but that was a few years ago. You could search my posts in 2010 or 2011. I have a build along in the "How To" section where I build an elm recurve. There might be some heat straightening in that thread.
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@tim I will tomorrow! I cant find my sd card
@pat thanks I will see if I can find those posts!
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No posts I know of but I am sure boarriorbows on YouTube has some. How to section would be a good place to look too.
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Simple clamp your stave by the handle in a vice. I use a very big adjustable spanner to go around the limb (obviously the limbs need to be at least floor tillered) Once it's a snug fit on the limb start heating the twisted spot. Once you have some heat in the wood get a 2 litlre drinks bottle and tie it to the end of the spanners handle, fill with water until you see some untwisting. Then carry on heating until the twist is out. The bottle of water is miles better than just adding a weight because it's infinately adjustable...you just pour out a little water. If you don't have a very big adjustable lamp two slats of wood 1 inch thick either side of the limb and proceed as above.
Really easy once you've done a few.
My other advice is don't worry too much about propellor twist, a bit doesn't hurt a bow at all
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Recurved tips give a great lever to take out prop twist.
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I don't bother with them unless they are greater that 30-35 degrees. If I have to fix it, this is how. Jawge
http://georgeandjoni.home.comcast.net/~georgeandjoni/fixtwist.html
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Twist is fairly easy to get out. I do basically the same as Mikekeswick. I put the handle in the vice and put a C-clamp on the end. I hang some big wrenches off of the handle of the clamp. I put something under the limb to keep if from sagging down from the weight. Then I heat the limb and when it gets to the right temperature it will untwist itself. I like to go a little past straight to allow for some spring back. The next time I untwist a bow I'll take some pictures for a how to.
You can also use a caul if the twist isn't to bad.
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Thanks for all the info guys yall are sure a helpful bunch! :)
Also these are the staves in question,
(http://i.imgur.com/TYHT4cN.jpg?1)
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:o :o :o :o :o :o. That is a ton of twist. :o :o :o :o. The one on the right isn't too bad but you could easily untwist it. The one on the left is 180 degrees! You can try getting that out but I would nearly throw it away!!
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What kind of wood are those? They should straighten out. You might have better luck with steam than dry heat.
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What kind of wood are those? They should straighten out. You might have better luck with steam than dry heat.
Its im 95% sure its swamp oak, and you dont think dry heat will work at all?
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No it's far too severe on the left stave - that would be firewood for me! Make sure to eyeball the bark before cutting - you can pretty much always tell if it's twisted.
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I wouldn't give up yet on the one on the left yet. You could cut in half and splice it - just a thought, Bob.
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It can be straightend out with multiple steamings.
I have done it once with a european black cherry...but i would only do it if i was seriously starved of good bow wood.
Its much easier to find a better piece but you learn a lot of what can be done if you try...even if it dont make a bow.
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Rough 'em out into plank form and steam/twist straight. Then add a handle piece..........Art
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I've done a couple like that. When you figure you'll probably spend a day untwisting it and then wait 3-4 maybe 12 months for it to dry and then find that it cracked when you twisted it, you would be better off going back to the bush and finding a straighter one. The first half dozen staves I collected were twisted like this (180 degrees) they have since been replaced with staves that I am more comfortable with. I was getting pretty disillusioned for a spell. Of course, if this is the only piece of wood you will ever see, start steamin'. But be prepared to have the thing rip itself in half lengthwise :( :(