White oak flip tipping help.

[Vgo750]

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.

[Pat B]

Like with hickory, you might do better with steam for bending white oak.

[mwosborn]

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.


IMG_0103  by  mwosborn1 , on Flickr

[Black Mockingbird]

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