What do I?

[smj]

Twist in the stave needs to be heated out. Typically, the stave is placed in a steam-heat box and heated nice and hot through and through. The wood softens and you can take out twist or add recurve to the stave at this point. Some argue that this should be done while the stave is yet green. That to reheat the stave after it has dried out can lead to some break down in the fiber of the stave, that some of the minerals get leached out of the wood leaving it less than it was. Others don't buy that at all! Still, to remove twist, the wood has to be heated and counter twisted. Steaming green wood can actually tend to dry it out a bit. Steam heat on a dry stave will add a bit of moisture to it and it will have to be dried out again before making a bow. Is there a chance to exchange the stave for one that is straight? If not, we will have to make a steamer - to be honest with you the bows I make do not require this. I cut them flat, and laminate them with bamboo. For the bow you will make from this stave, it is hard for me to judge without see it. There is always some variation with wood, seems to be its nature!

[fred70]

worked all weekend trying to get a continuous grain from end to end.
draw knife was a bit to aggressive. still shaving though
What happen when there is a small knot 1/3 of the way down the limb?
The twist is both ends twist in the same direction but after scaping to the growth ring it seems to have minimized.When I get it scaped to the same growth ring I'll post a pic.

[fred70]

heres the twist

here the knot

[smj]

Fred - I posted on another thread...
btreviews.proboards57.com/index.cgi?board=traditional&action=display&thread=1203095082&page=3

And in it posted some stuff that was meant for you. Sorry about that! Go to the above thread, you will find an outline for a Howard Hill bow. Also, in answer to your question about twist or bend - you will need to heat the wood. I have done this with hickory before using a hot air gun. The wood has to be so hot that you can't hold it, but not smoking. Steam is often used as the steam transports the heat very well to the wood, and you will never over-heat or burn the stave. Once hot, counter twist or bend, hold, cool, release, done. Again,sorry about the miss-post!

[fred70]

thanx again smj Havent been able to work on bow they switch us to afternoon kinda messes up all the schedules!

[smj]

Yeah, work can get in the way! The bow will still be here, let me know when you have time to get back to it...

[huntbunny6]

I just got him a woodworking set with lots of little cool tools in it, so I bet he's back at it by the weekend

[smj]

How are things going? Any time to work on a bow?