making reflexes

[SiongSA]

Hey guys, me again
working on this piece of ash and i would like to make some reflexes/ recurves in it. But yes, i'am the most primitive archer in the world so i don't have the equipment to make them accurately. Does anyone know how to make a simple mold to set the reflex in? and also the ash is only 2 weeks since cut to i'm guessing steam would be better that dry heat?

Sion,
South Africa

[denny]

I would take a 2/6 and make a radius of 3inches and drill some holes in the board with a (2 inch hole saw) to use clamps to hold wood to the form.I use a space heater or heat gun. Some use grease or bear fat to protest the wood from scorching. I don't use steam for a lot of reasons. But some do.The trick is to heat, too hot to touch , but not to scorch,start your clamping to the mold and ever so gently bent around the radius.Let cool and there you have it. hope this helps. Denny

[Kegan]

Same as Denny, 'cept I use steam. Both of our heat guns have kicked the bucket, so steam is a lot easier for me.

[dragonman]

ash is the best wood in the world for steaming...

[SiongSA]

bump this topic^

Hey guys,
i'm still looking to put reflex into my now finished ash 69" flatbow, the reason i really would like to do this is because the bow came out a little of the light side (30lb) so i wanna make it a bit stronger. My problem is is i finish the bow with beeswax, so if i steam the wood it wont be effective right? do i haave to take the wax off first, or if a dry heat instead won't the wax act as a sort of oil/grease that people use for dry heating anyway?

Any advice appreciated

[bubby]

it's the heat from the steam, not the water that get's the wood to bend, so it should work

[crooketarrow]

   Put it between 2 saw horses and hang a cinder block in the middle. I add reflex to all of my staves this way.
  I only have a draw knife rasp ans scraper.  I you have  these you can build a bow. Useless you want  to get really primitive then get a peice of flint. I've did this it I fell for the indains that did this. At least you don't take to much wood off at once.

[Pat B]

It is the heat from the steam that plasticizes the wood so it will bend. The wax might even deter the moisture from re-hydrating the already dry wood.

[fishfinder401]

i steamed a bow that i had already finished with linseed oil and it worked great, and in my opinon better than without anything on it, it might work the same way with the wax
good luck
noel

[SiongSA]

ok getting the steam ready now, how long shuld i steam it for?

[fishfinder401]

ok getting the steam ready now, how long shuld i steam it for?

what size is the bow?

[SiongSA]

the end i'm doing atm is 1/2" at tips to 3/4", 1.5cm thick

[Pat B]

I'd say 30 minutes to 45 minutes. You will just have to test it to see if it has become flexable enough to bend.

[SiongSA]

I'd say 30 minutes to 45 minutes. You will just have to test it to see if it has become flexable enough to bend.

cheers pat

[fishfinder401]

what pat says sounds bout right, i would say a little less, but more probably wouldn't hurt
good luck
noel