What is the proper way to temper the belly of a bow? I have heard this could possibly add pounds to a bow. Is that correct? I have an osage selfbow that turned out a bit light. I would love to add about 5-7 lbs to it if possible. Thx, Paul<><
According to what I have done it will add some weight to a "White wood" bow not 5-7 pounds tho. According to what I have read, it will not have the same effects on osage. I have not Tempered an osage bow, tho I have heated and straitened an osage bow maybe 5 or 6 times(the same bow) and it has worked great. I am not sure if it was "tempering" it at the same time.
As far as how to do it, I clamp my bow to a skinny form(1" wide)and take a heat gun and hold it on the belly side about 2-4" off and let the wood get real Brown. Do not make it like charcoal but get it DARK! You will need to adjust tiller after you let it(bow) stabilize for a few days on the form.
i only heat till to hot to touch with other hand NOT brown and i dont think i ever noticed a diff on osage on other woods white woods yep but not osage brock
I have tempered my last two osage bows and I think it definitely makes a difference. I like to get the belly wood(not the sides or back) to a nice chocolate brown color. I wasn't looking to add weight but to lessen string follow so I don't know how much you can increase the draw weight by tempering. By flipping the tips(slight recurve) a little you can gain a bit of weight too just remember the give and take of wood bow building.
i might try it! i tempered several bows now, and it made a difference. at about 150 degrees celsius (dont know whats in fahrenheit, cause i´m german) the lignin in the wood cells starts a reaction and makes the wood more pressure resistant. so you will get more draw weight, and more power on arrow.
Thanks guys!
After tempering, do you scrape down past the dark wood? Do the effects of tempering go deeper than the wood which is actually seared?
The charred wood is just the indicator that the wood is cooked. The heat treating goes in as far as the heat does.
Once you heat treat the belly, allow a few days so the wood can rehydrate back to a safe level before you stress the bow.
great Pat...resists string follow, eh? hm, a little string follow is a good thing, i've heard...some quote like, "the sweet sendoff like a longbow with an inch of string follow,"....from one of the TBB's...
It's covered in great detail on the Traditional Bowyer's Bible, Vol. 4. You might want to give it a read.
I heat it until the color changes, but I DO NOT char it. You have to heat it slowly and deeply to make the change.
I could easily see it adding 5-7 lbs on a bow, but probably not a light one, 7 lbs on a 35# bow would be a high percentage of the weight, but adding 7 lbs to a 60 lb bow, nice and wide, might happen.
If done properly toasting WILL add some weight and will prevent or reverse a certain amount of set. I have taken bows with 2" of set, toasted them over a form into 2" reflex, and shot the bow in, keeping 3/4" to 1" reflex. You have to do it right, but it definitely improves performance.