About 15 minutes into my first attempt at flipping tips my form broke. I had brushed on oil and had been heating for about 15 minutes solid with a heat gun. I was just started to get some bend when my form gave way. The tips were just starting to discolor. Can I go back once I've built a proper form and re-heat and re-bend the same tips? They are still about 5/8" thick and 3/4" wide.
(http://i777.photobucket.com/albums/yy54/91mr2_album/photo.jpg) (http://s777.photobucket.com/user/91mr2_album/media/photo.jpg.html)
Like with hickory, you might do better with steam for bending white oak.
I think you could try again. I agree with Pat - I would use steam. Get a pot of water boiling - wrap the area to be bent with a wet rag - and adjust it over the pot and cover with foil. Steam about 45 min or so. Take out and it will bend easy! Here is a pic of one I did last week - it was a static tip bend. You can see the pot just to the left and the rag hanging in the background.
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7357/11922241006_534d9a57ae.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/92150841@N03/11922241006/)
IMG_0103 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/92150841@N03/11922241006/) by mwosborn1 (http://www.flickr.com/people/92150841@N03/) , on Flickr
Also to add..try reducing the thickness some more to at least a good floor tiller and no less...even after the long string for you will be better....the thinner it is the easier it will be to heat n bend