Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: sapling bowyer on January 17, 2016, 03:56:42 am

Title: BL stave problem
Post by: sapling bowyer on January 17, 2016, 03:56:42 am

I recently cut this black locust stave that has a bend in it.It is 62 inches with the bend but if I cut it, it will be 50 inches. Can I steam bend this so that it is straight or is it hopeless? Also the wood is green if it helps.

Title: Re: BL stave problem
Post by: Dakota Kid on January 17, 2016, 05:05:35 am

Clamp it straight while it seasons and it will help. You'll have to wait to see how much it helps and go from there. Depending on your layout, you might be able to leave the bend as reflex and bend the straight side to match. I don't have much experience bending green wood so I can't help there. I have corrected BL with dry heat bending and it worked fine.

Title: Re: BL stave problem
Post by: riverrat on January 17, 2016, 08:24:52 am

while its green you can try to "help it" straight.the advice of clamping it and waiting till it drys is sound. after it dries and after you start to get it to floor tillered stage you can heat bend it straight. too much right now while its green will weaken fibers robbing it of strength later.Tony

Title: Re: BL stave problem
Post by: PatM on January 17, 2016, 08:33:59 am

Let's see the whole thing. If the right side is clean just make that a reflexed end and heat the other end to match.

Title: Re: BL stave problem
Post by: George Tsoukalas on January 17, 2016, 09:27:22 am

I assume it is a sapling from the excessive crown  with not enough heartwood for a bow. That's fine. Just leave the sapwood back.

If it were my stave, I'd begin to floor tiller it getting it to bend a couple of inches. That way it will be thin enough for steam bending or you could wait for it to dry in a few months (?) and use dry heat.

Then, I would bring it to long string tiller and just before I would be ready to string it, I would back it with rawhide or some such. Unless your draw is short, that crown is problematic especially since you cannot leave the stave a few inches longer.

Yes, sir. That's what I would do.

Jawge

Title: Re: BL stave problem
Post by: Pat B on January 17, 2016, 09:47:42 am

I'd do what George suggested. I would bring it to floor tiller and steam it straight. Later, if needed I'd use dry heat to make final corrections.

Title: Re: BL stave problem
Post by: Pat B on January 17, 2016, 11:08:44 am

...and don't forget to seal the back...ASAP.  ;)

Title: Re: BL stave problem
Post by: sapling bowyer on January 17, 2016, 01:18:05 pm

thanks for all your answers. It checked a few inches because I couldn't seal it right away. Seems that BL checks very fast

Title: Re: BL stave problem
Post by: George Tsoukalas on January 17, 2016, 03:02:42 pm

Yes, it does. Get some poly or polyacrylic on that pronto.
Shellac will work too.
Jawge

Title: Re: BL stave problem
Post by: sleek on January 17, 2016, 06:22:53 pm

That short and narrow, i would deceown it and do everything George says.

Title: Re: BL stave problem
Post by: sapling bowyer on January 18, 2016, 04:04:46 am

since I don't have access to shellac or anything else, I covered the ends with wax and  the back with lots of olive oil. Hope it works

Title: Re: BL stave problem
Post by: bradsmith2010 on January 18, 2016, 05:23:59 pm

glue will work also
wax would be ok on the back as well

Title: Re: BL stave problem
Post by: Pat B on January 18, 2016, 10:57:58 pm

You can even add masking tape to the back. It will seal it, not as well as other things but its better than nothing.