Author Topic: Bending ERC?  (Read 3583 times)

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Offline Hillbilly

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Bending ERC?
« on: January 15, 2008, 09:25:48 pm »
I've got me a nice stave of ERC that I traded Nugget out of, and I'm looking forward to trying it. I was wondering how easy/hard it is to heat bend? I'm thinking about making a gull-wing sinewed Plains-type bow from it, but I've never tried bending cedar.
Smoky Mountains, NC

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Offline cowboy

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Re: Bending ERC?
« Reply #1 on: January 15, 2008, 09:44:45 pm »
Hmmm, of interest to me. Totally worthless info to you Steve ;D, but I may try something like that in the near future ;).
When you come upon a track or trail you do not know, follow it to the point of knowing.

Offline mullet

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Re: Bending ERC?
« Reply #2 on: January 15, 2008, 11:28:09 pm »
   Steam it Steve, nice and slow. Bend it a little and steam it some more. I've broke a bunch by trying to bend it too much too quick.
Lakeland, Florida
 If you have to pull the trigger, is it really archery?

Offline Hillbilly

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Re: Bending ERC?
« Reply #3 on: January 16, 2008, 08:51:09 am »
Thanks, Eddie. I won't be making any drastic bends if I stick with my plan-just a little setback in the handle and maybe some deflex at midlimb. Is it back to check after steaming, or pretty stable?
Smoky Mountains, NC

NeolithicHillbilly@gmail.com

Progress might have been all right once but it's gone on for far too long.

Offline Stickhead

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Re: Bending ERC?
« Reply #4 on: January 16, 2008, 11:16:31 am »
I've done some limited steam bending to the tips of an ERC bow.  It was mostly sapwood, which I've heard is more tolerant of bending.  The heartwood is so brittle that I've never had the guts to bend it.  I'll do some experimenting on scraps one of these days.  Please post anything you learn for the rest of us!

Offline mullet

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Re: Bending ERC?
« Reply #5 on: January 16, 2008, 09:30:15 pm »
  Steve, seal the back. It will check on you after steaming. It seems to dry very fast.
Lakeland, Florida
 If you have to pull the trigger, is it really archery?