Trad Gang
Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: TX FLY CASTER on July 08, 2015, 05:02:00 PM
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Well I have several staves that have been drying for about two years , problem is the Texas humidity never lets up. I have built many laminated glass bows but never a selfbow. Any good recommendations on literature or videos?
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get it rought down to size and take it in the house to dry more.
weight it on scales, (Grams) and keep a log on the weight loss until it stops loosing.
when you start working on it bring it back in the house as much as possible.
Hickory needs to be dry
you are not dry enough yet. :(
MY Thoughts
Someone will chime in on some measurements for you.
I've had 3 or 4 in the house waiting for them to get dry enough
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Will placing it in my bow oven help?
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Yes 100 degrees. Rough it down first.
Any reflex or flip tips befor drying
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Buy the Traditional Bowyers Bibles series. Start at vol1, make a load of bows, then vol2,3,4 and repeat!
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There is so much information on self bows from past threads on this site. Use the search feature and type in "hickory selfbow". Bet you'll find a ton of info.
It gets humid even up here in Wisconsin. All the wood in my basement is at 13 % or more MC. I've been using my hot box at 100 degrees like Mark suggested. A few days to a week brings it down to 8-9 %. Good luck!
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Make sure it is roughed down before hot boxing it. If the stave is too large, force drying it could cause it to check.
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Post pics lots of pic. if you have a question ask with a pic.
most on here will help. dont be surpised if it is only one or 2. most let one or 2 floks help you out because no 2 bowyers do it the same.
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So this is where I am at with the Hickory..... Not sure if this one will make a bow or not. Getting it roughed down so that it can go in the bow oven for a week or so. (http://i820.photobucket.com/albums/zz127/dc1502/bow4.png) (http://s820.photobucket.com/user/dc1502/media/bow4.png.html) (http://i820.photobucket.com/albums/zz127/dc1502/bow3.png) (http://s820.photobucket.com/user/dc1502/media/bow3.png.html) (http://i820.photobucket.com/albums/zz127/dc1502/bow2.png) (http://s820.photobucket.com/user/dc1502/media/bow2.png.html) (http://i820.photobucket.com/albums/zz127/dc1502/bow1.png) (http://s820.photobucket.com/user/dc1502/media/bow1.png.html)