oven/strips

[SKlometz]

Bow oven or heat strips.What do you use and why.

[JamesV]

I use an oven, cheap to build and no service, just a new bulb now and then. I have been told that the heat strips don't hold up longterm.

[James Oertel]

what james said and i also use my box as a drying both for small projects .

[Pat B]

A heat box has lots more uses than heat strips do.

[GREG IN MALAD]

I use both. The oven is more versatile and cheaper, but it's also bigger and if a person has a small shop they take up room. I use heat strips for take down limbs, 45 minutes to cure and an hour to cool down and it's done. Either will work fine, it just depends on what your needs are.

[Dick in Seattle]

I have and have tried both and stick to my oven.  I find the strip setup awkward, too big on the bench and unwieldy.  i've had the whole setup tip over twice.  Also have read too many instances of failures of pressure hoses.   Oven and clamps have worked for as long as I've been old enough to pull a bow and still do.  As far as "fast" goes, I did four layups in two days awhile back.  Ground 'em to blanks and put 'em on the rack for "when I get around to it".  Pulled one down this morning and ground out the bow.  Should have it finished by the end of the week.  As far as room goes, I have my front opening oven mounted on a wall as a bridge between two workbenches... very convenient.

 

[T Folts]

I use heat strips for my takedown limbs,
I can do a set in a 1/2 day, where the box takes two days for me. I use my box for drying lams before glue-up and all my overlay work and riser glue-ups. So I use both.