Heat Treating Question?

Dan Landis · January 30, 2011, 12:08:00 PM

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

Art B · January 30, 2011, 01:14:00 PM

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

Dan Landis · January 30, 2011, 02:06:00 PM

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

Art B · January 30, 2011, 03:21:00 PM

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

ber643 · January 31, 2011, 07:11:00 PM

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

Dan Landis · January 31, 2011, 07:51:00 PM

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

Art B · February 01, 2011, 06:27:00 AM

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

ber643 · February 01, 2011, 06:42:00 AM

Thanks, Art - I'll take a look-see next trip to WW.

Pat B · February 01, 2011, 10:16:00 AM

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.