i read in tbm a while back on how u can straighten a bow limb by running warm water over. does anyboby else remember that story? i have got a bow for my son but it has a little twist in the bottom limb. i cant remember everything that was said on how to do it. any help would be great.
don
If it's a small twist skip the hot water. Put the bow in a vise (or clamp to a table) with the limbs horizontal and "on edge". That is, with the width of the limb vertical. Put a bar clamp on the limb with the bar extending horizontally or slightly "uphill" due to the twist in the limb. Hang a weight from the bar to slightly overbend the twisted limb slightly past straight. Leave it for a day or so and check it. If the twist is out, string the bow and leave it strung for a week or so (shoot it if you want, but don't unstring it) to give it a chance to "get used to" its new position. If it's still twisted, put the weight back on and leave it a while longer. Heat is helpful for large twists but for a minor twist, just twisting it back usually works.
The suggestion Dave is giving you is a good one and very similar to one I got from an old timer. The only difference is the old timer said to use a hair dryer and go back and fourth over the limb, don't make it too hot though. Everything else is the same, once the limb straightens out it's done, you'll know it's straight once the weight drops a little.
Since I have never done this, please let us know how it turns out.
Buck...I've straightened several just by holding the riser in my left hand and gently twisting the limb with my right hand. Twist it and hold it there for a few seconds then release it and re-string the bow...if it's not out completely just do it again.
String the bow up and while holding the string in place twist it the opposite way of twist. Give it a good crank and let it settle, check and do again if not straight. You may have to do this over a day or two but it will work. I would not do the clamp thing. I have gotten a bunch of badly twisted limbs straight this way and two very respected bowyers told me heat is not needed. Fiberglass has a memory and by heating it you may lose that original memory. Shawn
About 2 years ago now I talked to a bowyer about straightening a limb. He called it "bumping it." It was as Shawn described it. It worked for me. Good luck.
I hunted last year with a Super Kodiak that I straightened just like Shawn described it. I left the bow strung a long time, and bumped it occasionally. You can't tell it was ever twisted, now.