How do I bent Black Locusts?

[Ed Brooks]

I'm sorry to have to ask but I was un-able to find the answer. Do you use dry heat or oil and heat to straighten / bend Black Locusts? Thank you Ed

[Mo_coon-catcher]

Depends on how far you need to bend it. For just alignment, gentle recurves,  or deflex/reflex level bending, just dry heat works fine. For sharp recurves I like to steam and have the heat gun ready to add some extra heat to walk the wood around te form. For me, black locust seems to take a bit more heat than Osage before it wants to move.

Kyle

[ntvbowyer1969]

I always used direct heat for straightening and flipping the tips. works great using a heat gun. just stay back further than say osage because it scorches easier.

[upstatenybowyer]

I agree w/ cooncatcher. In fact w/ any wood I always use steam or boil for sharp curves.

Straightening, gentle curves, ect. dry heat works great.

[Ed Brooks]

Thank you all for the information. Much appreciated. Ed

[Mo_coon-catcher]

I’m about to start posting some more on a black locust recurve in the bow trade thread. I used a mixture of dry heat and steam on this one. It’s starting with 2.5” reflex. I just started to flex it and am hoping to have it braced before I quit in the morning.

Kyle