I heat treated a HHB bow last weekend and stored it in our bathroom (no basement). Since then I have weighed it almost every day and it has not gained any weight back, not even 1/10th of an ounce. My questions are; should I see a weight gain, and is it safe to start exercising the limbs and completing final tiller? This is my trade bow and I don't want to ruin it.
Thanks, Dan
Sounds like the air inside your house is just as dry as your heat treated bow. Do you know the R/H inside your house? If your answer is no then don't start exercising your bow. Go get a humidity/temperature gauge/monitor. Got mine at Wally world for about 7 bucks. You want your wood at least 8-10% MC so you're going to need between 40-50 R/H to achieve that.........Art
Thanks Art, I have 2 gauges, one is reading 57%, the other is reading 39%. Sounds like the 39% one is probably correct, I'll pick up a 3rd one just to compare.
Do you have any idea how much weight gain I should see?........Dan
Don't have any idea of the physical weight gain on bows Dan. If that 39% R/H is close then I wouldn't worry about working on the bow. A week is way more than enough time to rehydrate IMO. When I jump on something that I think may have a low M/C I use a temporary backing of nylon strapping tape. Since bows are apt to break in tension when dry a little added insurance really helps......Art
What section of WallyWorld would I find the guage in, Art. Sounds like a handy thing to have around in general. (I assume we are not talking about one of those "ship" types that have the three guages (temp/barometric pressure/humidity) which I have one of.) Does this sound like a "DUH!"? - LOL
Art, thanks again for the info. I like the idea of using the nylon strapping tape as insurance. I'll give it a try.....Dan
Houseware/hardware section Bernie. Bought one for inside where I keep my bows and one for the shop. And just to have one to check against the other :D .......Art
Thanks, Art - I'll take a look-see next trip to WW.
You probably shouldn't use heat on an already glued up bow. If anything heat treat the belly lam before glue up. The heat can and will deteriorate most glues.