Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: wizardgoat on May 07, 2014, 03:29:04 pm

Title: When is it too late to heat treat?
Post by: wizardgoat on May 07, 2014, 03:29:04 pm
If a bow has taken some set after about 50 arrows, is it too late to try to heat in reflex.
Or will it spring right back?
It's a pacific dogwood 51" slight bendy handle. First time with the wood, and maybe asking
too much out of it, 50#@23,
Cheers
Title: Re: When is it too late to heat treat?
Post by: Pat B on May 07, 2014, 04:01:20 pm
Ideally you want to temper before set has set in but it may still help some.
Title: Re: When is it too late to heat treat?
Post by: Jim Davis on May 07, 2014, 05:01:50 pm
It's too late to heat treat after the bow has broken.  ;)
Title: Re: When is it too late to heat treat?
Post by: SLIMBOB on May 07, 2014, 05:58:02 pm
Respectfully, I cant entirely agree with that.  I certainly think it's much better to heat treat before the bow has taken too much set, but I do think there is a benefit to heat bending the set out and tempering in the new profile.  I say this out of having done so on numerous bows with positive results.  Some better than others, but a potential worth considering.

Ahh, just reread that and it looks as though we don't disagree after all.  :)
Title: Re: When is it too late to heat treat?
Post by: wizardgoat on May 07, 2014, 10:29:27 pm
I just steamed in some reflex in the handle, and it took it pretty good. Ill brace it up in a few days, thanks guys
Title: Re: When is it too late to heat treat?
Post by: Arrowind on May 07, 2014, 11:22:50 pm
Too late to heat treat?  I'd say around 10:30pm.    I'm not much of a night owl I usually prefer to work on bows in the mornings.  but that's just me.  :P 


Sorry.  I couldn't help it.

Wish i could actually help. 
Title: Re: When is it too late to heat treat?
Post by: wizardgoat on May 10, 2014, 06:17:12 pm
In case anyone was wondering, after 50 arrows and 2.5" of string  follow, I steamed the handle for an hour and clamped it down in a reflex. Let it chill for a couple days and braced it up. Started working it on the tiller, and it gained 10 lbs. just a few scrapes and it looked good again.  Shot 100 arrows out yesterday and is now showing 1 1/4" string follow.
Pacific dogwood is a treat to work, I'm thinking I should go cut some while its in full bloom around here!
Title: Re: When is it too late to heat treat?
Post by: mullet on May 10, 2014, 08:25:05 pm
I've rebent a lot of the old Lemonwood and hickory bows back to new and the majority of them took little set.
Title: Re: When is it too late to heat treat?
Post by: lukelawrence171 on May 10, 2014, 10:13:38 pm
If you look on my last post I heat treated an osage bow after it was done and tillered and it just got rid of all of the set and dissent change anything else I would try it whenever but it's best to do it a few times throughout the tillering process   :D