I am trying to straighten a hickory board 1 inch thick, 2 inch wide, and 72 inch long. I want to cut it into strips to back some bows but the board is warped. I have tried dry heat and steam but the sucker just won't straighten. I think maybe I am not keeping it in the clamps long enough but don't know.
How long should I keep the board clamped straight after heating or steaming it?
Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
You would be hard pressed to heat a full board well enough to straighten it. It may be easier to straighten the strips. Will you post pics of the board from different angles?
Canopyboy and I have cut a lot of lams from boards and even if they start straight they often warp as they're cut from uneven internal stresses.
What we've been doing is running the boards across the jointer first, and in between cutting each lam to keep things straight.
You'll lose material but the final product will be higher quality.
Hope that helps.