Backed bow straightening question

[razorback]

I am working on a bamboo backed hickory. Everything seemed good and straight through layout and prepping board and backing. Glued up with unibond800. Now I find the tips and handle don't line up. Not sure where I went wrong but what I want to know is can I use heat or steam to bring it into alignment. I have some width I can use to move the tips a little and will cut a shelf if I need to.

[Bowjunkie]

I've never used Unibond, but have made heat corrections on bamboo backed bows glued with Smooth On. I'd try it. Heat the belly side. Dont get it too hot, just get it hot enough you can't, or can barely, hold your hand on it.

[Pat B]

Will you post pics so we can see how bad it is?
I have heard of guys that used Urac using heat to straighten glue-ups but I've never tried it.
Is the unbraced bow straight and only off when braced? If so it could be uneven limb thickness.

[J.F. Miller]

I have never done this with Unibond, but I've done plenty of times with Urac 185, which for all intents and purposes is the same thing as Unibond. I've never experienced any ill effect from heating the glue joint. do what Bowjunkie says.

[razorback]

Pat, haven't got it strung yet, so I know it isn't that problem yet.

I will try for some gentle heat correction when I get it bending a bit. Easier to move less wood.

[Bowjunkie]

Good thinking. Also, I find a technique Dean Torges told me about to be especially helpful in cases like this... Hold the bow in your bench vice and hang a gallon jug of water from the tip by a short piece of cord. Then heat the bow until it moves the necessary amount 'on its own'. Less chance of using too much heat this way.

I like to hang the weight on it, then stand a tape measure up on the floor in the locked position so that the end of the tape is flush with the bow limb near the tip. That way you can gauge how far it moves as you're heating it by keeping an eye on the end of the tape measure. It wont move until it has enough heat in it and when it gets where you want it, it's done.... you can even cut an appropriate length 'stop stick' so it quits moving when it gets exactly where you need it... i.e. won't let it go too far. Then leave it there until completely cool.