When bending bows (tips) etc.. with a heat gun how long should one wait before exercising the bow.

i do not know how other do but i wait until i can not touch to surface of the wood.

but steam bending is safer imo.

best.

Some folks say that after heat correcting a working part of the limb, it's a good idea to wait a week or more to allow some moisture to return, since the heat gun drives it out, sometimes to dangerously low levels. I've heard of a few instances of the limb breaking where the correction was made if flexed too soon.

I've never had a heat correction break, but don't build them in a hurry, so maybe they get to rehydrate afterwards by default.

I generally wait until the next day after heat bending with a heat gun. Even when the surface is cool the internal wood could be warm enough to bend reversing the correction.

QuoteOriginally posted by Pat B:
I generally wait until the next day after heat bending with a heat gun. Even when the surface is cool the internal wood could be warm enough to bend reversing the correction.

Sounds about right, I have done some in the past with no ill effect. As long as no fibers have lifted it should be ok.
Just wanted some feedback on this subject as I dont know what is adequate.
As far as waiting a week or so I dont think its necessary as long the wood was within 7-10 percent moisture content when applying heat..

On some of the recurves I've bent with dry heat(oil added)splinters lifted. I just saturate with super glue and sand it smooth when the glue dries. On one extreme recurve I made it splintered quite a bit so after super glue and sanding I added an underlay of yew with a very thin piece of ipe for the string to ride on. Once reshaped it was good to go.

Thanks for the info.      

I wait overnight before proceeding. Jawge

I wait until the next day. Jawge

QuoteOriginally posted by George Tsoukalas:
I wait until the next day. Jawge

I wait overnight before proceeding. Jawge

Same diff aint it.?    :rolleyes:

Well said, Jawge...    

..............good stuff