At Bow-Jam last weekend one bowmaker had a bent, twisted bow blank that was straightened out using a heat gun (paint remover), a form and some clamps. The osage bow blank that I made has a reflex on on limb tip and a deflex on the other. I want to make both the same amount of reflex. I plan on using a heat gun. I have made a form and have several good sized clamps. Do I clamp an end, heat about a foot or so of limb for several minutes, then bend more and clamp down on form? What am I missing in this procedure? I don't want to risk breaking the bow. Thanks
If the form is full length, start by clamping the stave at the handle with a sturdy clamp, heat from the fade to the middle of the limb, (about 16 inches at a time) as you heat, have a clamp at the tip and give it a few cranks every minute or so of heating, slowly bringing it closer to the form. Soon the first "quarter" will be flat against the form, clamp it down, and the proceed to heat from mid-limb to tip with the same procedure. I like to work in quarters. And do yourself a favor and find some grapeseed oil, rub it on the belly before heating, it has a smoking temp of 485 degrees F. It is like wearing baby oil in the sun! Greatly helps the process, and keeps the wood fiber from scorching!
Good Luck
Littletree