how to apply heat to stave?

[Ian johnson]

this sounds like a stupid question, but how should I apply heat to my osage stave?

[Walt Francis]

I have used steam, a heat gun, hair dryer, and a microwave oven    , they all worked fine.  Only used steam with a green stave though, I learned the hard way (I'm a slow learner at times).  The up side of using steam on a seasoned/dry stave is I learned how to use rawhide to back bows.

[Eric Krewson]

Any cheap paint stripping heat gun will work fine. I use a piece of aluminum angle as a reflecter to transfer the heat all the way around a stave. This cuts the heating time in half.

[Ian johnson]

I have my stave attatched to a board right now with c clamps, I have been applying heat and then tightening the clamps, cant tell if it going to work so far

[Osagetree]

Hey Eric,,, ever get burned on that angle?   :eek:

[Eric Krewson]

Yep, when I knock it off the work bench and absent mindedly reach down to catch it.