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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: bwhntrjsh on July 27, 2009, 09:11:00 PM

Title: steaming osage
Post by: bwhntrjsh on July 27, 2009, 09:11:00 PM

Hello all i hoped someone could help me out.  I built an osage longbow out of a stave last year followed one growth ring, but probably missed limb widths or rounded the edges to hard or something, anyway it took a large set.  The bow actually is great to shoot but a bit doggish and i wondered if i could steam bend a reflex deflex design into it to up the output.  Would it hold the bends or am i working in futility?  Any help is greatly appreciated.

Title: Re: steaming osage
Post by: Dano on July 27, 2009, 09:58:00 PM

I wouldn't mess with it, shoot it and enjoy it. Steam is for green wood, dry heat for dry wood. The set in this bow is done, you might be able to get a little more speed by flipping the tips or toasting the belly, but you can't take set out. You may end up making this bow worse, I would just build a new bow if it was me.

Title: Re: steaming osage
Post by: bwhntrjsh on July 27, 2009, 10:11:00 PM

thanks for the info a new bow is likely next, just out of curiosity what is flipping the tips (new term to me).

Title: Re: steaming osage
Post by: Dano on July 27, 2009, 10:54:00 PM

Bend a very slight recurve in the outer limb.

Title: Re: steaming osage
Post by: Roy Steele on July 27, 2009, 11:02:00 PM

I agree with DANO once sets there it's there.Learn not to put it in,in the first place.Seasoned staves,Long enough,Wide enough,No exture stress on your limbs.
  Don't been your limbs to far with to much weight.And don't use a tillering board with nochs cut into it that leaves your limbs bent for any amount of time.
  Make a pully,weight scale system if you don't have one.And never go past your desired weight as you (work)been your limbs to your draw leanth.

Title: Re: steaming osage
Post by: bwhntrjsh on July 27, 2009, 11:02:00 PM

thank you

Title: Re: steaming osage
Post by: Bjorn on July 27, 2009, 11:48:00 PM

Here's my son shooting the Osage recurve I made
last week
 (http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q291/bjornweb/DSCN0914.jpg)

Title: Re: steaming osage
Post by: bwhntrjsh on July 28, 2009, 02:24:00 PM

nice bow, the stave i used was purchased ready to go   my biggest mistake i believe was locking the bow in at full draw weight while tillering.  I do have a tillering board i built with a scale and pulley system.
Thanks again for all the info fellas, I think i might try to put a little reflex in the limb tips, I guess with dry heat not my steamer according to Dano.  Heat the back or belly with my heat gun?

Title: Re: steaming osage
Post by: pappy on July 29, 2009, 08:29:00 AM

Heat the belly,not the back.I usually do about the last 6 or 8 inches.
   Pappy

Title: Re: steaming osage
Post by: bwhntrjsh on July 29, 2009, 05:16:00 PM

thanks for the heads up pappy

Title: Re: steaming osage
Post by: Jesse Peltan on August 04, 2009, 02:50:00 PM

I would use a heat gun and recurve the tips.