Heat Treating Smell

[DLH]

Could I heat treat a hickory bow in my dorm room with out setting off a fire alarm or raising supision? Will it give off smoke or anything like that?

[Ryan Yoon]

Whenever I've heat treated my bows it hasn't given off smoke but that's not the problem. You probably shouldn't be doing that in your dorm! Keep to your studies! LOL!

[KochNE]

No smoke or fire alarms if you pay attention...but you can definitely smell it.  I'd do it anyhow... I doubt there's anything in the residence hall rules about heat tempering a bow.  Smells good, I think.

[DLH]

Ok lol just the whole weapon thing...

[Green]

Just tell them it's part of a physics project if they notice.    

[Osagetree]

Not a weapon till you string it. Until then it is a stick or carving.

[Dan Landis]

As long as you keep an eye on it and don't get too dark you should be ok.  I like the physics project mentioned above......Dan

[scrub-buster]

Do you have a window? If so, open it and put a fan blowing out.  If you get hassled, you are just working on a walking stick.

[Blue EagleBum]

Agree with Osagetree, after ten years in law enforcement, not a weapon until its strung. And without ammo, an arrow, hard to prove any intent to be used as a weapon. I also like the physics project. Its all in how you articulate it.

[okie64]

Hickory puts off a really good smell when heat-treated. I say go for it.

[John Scifres]

Call me an old fuddy-duddy but I'd say no way to using a heatgun in a dorm.  It's just not worth the risk.

[Pat B]

I agree with John. It does give off a burning smell and that alone, in a dorm, could cause a panic.
 And about it being a weapon, it could be. I think intent would warrent whether it was a weapon or not. A frying pan can be a weapon if used as one and so can a burned stick!

[Inuumarue]

Dunno about the tempering part, when I was in the dorms the fire alarms were very fickle.

As for the weapon part, I carry my bows around campus every Sunday, I keep it unstrung and the arrows in a pack, the VT police have never bothered me.  Does earn me a few looks from the other students though.

Adam

[Zradix]

you haven't disconnected or temporarily sealed that yet?

Lysol, fan, $$ for the RA worked for me with similar "smells"

[CaptainJ]

Yeah, I would find a less populated place to play with fire. It's not as much about setting off alarms and getting caught as it is endangering others. What if something does go wrong?

You could talk to a professor about doing it in a lab or workshop. I'll bet any physical science prof would find it fascinating.

CJ

[TroutGuide]

Not worth the risk.  Find a friend who lives off campus, or a campground near you that has power.  Or talk with a RA about runing a cord outside and doing it there.

[eflanders]

Could you get away with it yes.  There are lot of things that have been gotten away with in dorms that are far more serious. BUT is it the smart thing to do?  I don't think so.  Like others have suggested, find another place that can't possibly harm or offend others.