How to heat treat temper a bow

[hickry]

Hey guys,
I'm sure this has been covered, but I can't really find any definitive information on "How to" heat treat a bow belly.  I've got a hickory bow that I've shot all year and it's getting close to 2" of set. I've read that I may be able to heat treat it and get more life out of it but I'm not able to find any info.  Thanks, and I apologize if I'm overlooking an obvious source!
Alek

[Pat B]

Alek, Clamp your bow to a form with the belly up. Then use a heat gun to heat the wood, a section at a time, until it is chocolate brown(not black) then let it stay clamped for 3 or more days so the wood can rehydrate before stressing it.
   In the new TBB4, Marc St Louis, who popularized this method, has a whole chapter on heat treating(tempering) bow bellies.     Pat

[hickry]

Thanks!  Getting TBB4 for Christmas... can't wait!

[Pat B]

Lots of good new info and lots of updated info in TBB4. Steve Gardner's chapter on mass weight is quite helpful also as is Tim Bakers updated Performance and Design.  You'll love it.    Pat

[portugeejn]

I used the info in TBB4 to heat treat a yew bow and it worked out well.

RonP

[Pat B]

Ron, I haven't tried heat treating yew. Glad to know it works. Pat

[**DONOTDELETE**]

I have seen in thread that had the heat gun set on a piece of 2x4 to hold the hight the same.