Author Topic: Heating wood with vegetable oil (Read 4993 times)

RyanR · « **on:** December 06, 2014, 06:05:54 pm »

I have heard of people putting vegetable oil on their stave while heating it for correction. What is the purpose of this? Does it help keep some of the moisture in the stave so it does not become dry and brittle. I had one last weekend that got a little charred and formed a compression fracture that I could not get rid of. It literally exploded at just over brace while tillering. It was a 66" Osage stave. I have no reason to question the quality of the wood because my best bow so far came off a belly split of this stave.

missilemaster · « **Reply #1 on:** December 06, 2014, 06:26:24 pm »

People have different opinions on this. I think it definately helps with white woods. With osage I will use it for straightening out the limbs but if I am going to heat temper and add reflex I dont bother. It helps hold the heat in the wood as well as helping to keep scorch marks to a minimum.......unless your going for scorch marks

wizardgoat · « **Reply #2 on:** December 06, 2014, 06:32:46 pm »

Pretty sure oil helps prevent scorching, and helps evenly spread the heat.
Some shellac their greenish staves when steaming to prevent checking

Pat B · « **Reply #3 on:** December 06, 2014, 07:54:02 pm »

I use oil and think it helps hold the heat longer, helps the heat spread more evenly as well as keeping the wood from scorching. If you are not paying attention you can still scorch the wood even with oil.

SLIMBOB · « **Reply #4 on:** December 06, 2014, 07:57:22 pm »

Used it for a long time. Now I don't just to avoid the clean up. Seems not to be necessary as long as you use some caution.

BowJunkie · « **Reply #5 on:** December 06, 2014, 09:02:11 pm »

+1 with Wizardgoat and Pat. I have used it on several Hack berry staves over open fire, and with heat guns. It has worked well.
Spreads the heat out evenly, heat penetrates deeper and prevents scorching.

Hrothgar · « **Reply #6 on:** December 06, 2014, 11:18:47 pm »

Vegetable oil is more likely to scorch or burn than lard/Crisco. But it still serves a purpose.

Pat B · « **Reply #7 on:** December 07, 2014, 01:39:12 pm »

Crisco is veg shortening, basically emulsified veg oil.
I don't worry about the clean up since I started scrubbing with Dawn and hot water and rinse with boiling water. It only takes a few minutes and it preps the bows back surface by wetting it ahead of time for the sinew, rawhide or snake skin covering.

Pappy · « **Reply #8 on:** December 08, 2014, 08:01:40 am »

I use the cheapest Vegy oil I can get, like Cody I use it mostly white wood also I use it on Yew also, on Osage usually just for major work.

Pappy

PEARL DRUMS · « **Reply #9 on:** December 08, 2014, 10:15:56 am »

I wipe some on the back of bows Im tempering so my backed caul doesn't scorch it. Otherwise, I never use any on the belly side.

blackhawk · « **Reply #10 on:** December 08, 2014, 10:20:32 am »

Oil is for frying taters not wooden bows

Pappy · « **Reply #11 on:** December 08, 2014, 11:07:29 am »

This just goes to show you RyanR, lot of this stuff you just have to decide for your self, not really a right answer.

Pappy

PEARL DRUMS · « **Reply #12 on:** December 08, 2014, 11:55:35 am »

That pretty much spells it out pappy. The only thing we all agree on is limbs need to share the load to make a healthy, happy bow.

SLIMBOB · « **Reply #13 on:** December 08, 2014, 12:07:03 pm »

Well that, and that the front profile needs to match the tiller shape.

PEARL DRUMS · « **Reply #14 on:** December 08, 2014, 12:35:58 pm »

Don't get me started ROBERT!

Primitive Archer