Limb Twist in old bows

[Coyote Commander]

Hey fellas. A couple questions.

What is the proper way to check a bow for limb twist?

I have an old recurve that I think has a slight amount of limb twist. I set the bow on the floor (limp tips up), I can rock it back and forth ever so slightly. If I hold one limb down, I can slide a credit card under one side of the other limb, but cant get it under the other side of that same limb. (Hope I explained that well enough).

The "gap" between the limb and floor is only 1/32-1/16" at best on that side.

Second question....what is "to much" limb twist and will small amounts make the bow unsafe?

Third question....im guessing this bow has spent a while unstrung. Will stringing it correct the twist?

Thanks much!

[Cavscout9753]

Sounds like you identified it pretty well enough. Some folks suggest running the limb under warm water for a bit then just twisting it back by hand. Hold it in the twist for a little bit. A few times of this and you should be pretty set. I had a bow I had to do it to, worked out fine. Many people used to (and still) string recurves without a stringer. Someone with more knowledge than me will probably chime in. But if its as slight as you describe it shouldn't take much.

[Cavscout9753]

Sorry, when I mentioned the stringer part I meant to add "and SHOULD use a stringer.

[mahantango]

That's a pretty minor twist - hardly worth worrying about. I've seen some that the string won't even stay on that have been straightened out. They usually respond to mild heat and counter-twist. I've never been able to figure out why folks subject their wood bows to warm water to correct a twist instead of a dry heat such as a heat gun or hair dryer. Makes no sense to me. All you need to do is get them warm, not wet.

[McDave]

I think that, with the bow strung, you should cradle one end in one hand with the other end resting on the floor in front of you. Sight down the string. If the string bends enough where it contacts the bow to notice it, then the limbs are twisted enough to worry about. If not, then go forth and sin no more.

[JamesKerr]

Originally posted by Cavscout9753:
Sounds like you identified it pretty well enough. Some folks suggest running the limb under warm water for a bit then just twisting it back by hand. Hold it in the twist for a little bit. A few times of this and you should be pretty set. I had a bow I had to do it to, worked out fine. Many people used to (and still) string recurves without a stringer. Someone with more knowledge than me will probably chime in. But if its as slight as you describe it shouldn't take much.

X 2 Hot water and a twist in the opposite direction can cure what seems to be a pretty severe twist although it sounds like yours is just barely twisted. If you could post a picture it would help a lot to determine how bad it is, but from reading your post it almost sounds like it's so small to not worry about unless it starts getting worse.

[damascusdave]

Don Ward aka Bowdoc who has considerable experience with old bows is adamant that twist can be removed by applying countertwist without any added heat...just something to consider

DDave

[Cavscout9753]

Originally posted by mahantango:
That's a pretty minor twist - hardly worth worrying about. I've seen some that the string won't even stay on that have been straightened out. They usually respond to mild heat and counter-twist. I've never been able to figure out why folks subject their wood bows to warm water to correct a twist instead of a dry heat such as a heat gun or hair dryer. Makes no sense to me. All you need to do is get them warm, not wet.

The only explanation I've heard for using the water is that it's a milder heat so less likely to seperate the laminations? Seemed to make sense as I would think a heat gun could be pretty intense if over-done. Dunno, like I said - just what I heard.

[Uncle Buck]

Have you shot it yet? I have straightened some by hand, and some with warm water In My opinion there are few things more dangerous than a well intentioned DIY'er with a heat gun.

[Dave Worden]

X2 what DDAVE said.  I just clamp the bow horizontally in the woodworking vise on my bench with the twisted limb sticking out past the bench, add a bar clamp to the offending limb such that the bar is pointing up (hopefully, only slightly), add a weight to the bar to twist the limb down and leave it for a however long it takes to remove the twist.  After it's straight, I string the bow and leave it strung for a while to help "reinforce the training" I just gave the bow.  No heat, no water, no fuss.

[Whip]

I'm with Dave Worden on the method. Heat gun can be bad news for a bow if done wrong.  I've straightened a lot of bows using nothing more than the method Dave described.

[monkeyball]

I had a buddy that was given a Ben Pearson recurve that had a nasty twist on the lower limb.  We laid it across his boat out in the sun for a while (it was summer) then I counter twisted it until things were lining up.

  We then strung it to double check the straightness,which was good,then he took it down into his cellar which was quite cooler and hung it up horizontally.

 He shot that bow the rest of the summer. First Saturday of Archery season that year he killed a beautiful 8 pt with it,and guess what, the twist came back! It did't matter at that point.

                                               Good Shooting,
                                                              Craig
'

[old_goat2]

I'd add, do the counter twist, get it straightened, then leave it strung for a while.

[Brock]

I sight down the bow from one end to the other....both unbraced and braced to check for twist.  Easy to determine if you line yourself up with near tip and riser and sight down entire length of limb.

Once noticed I unbrace the bow...check again to see how it appears like that.  I used counter twist...over and over until it is back to where I want it or slightly past.

I brace the bow...check again and can do a little counter twist if needed but be careful....and get it lined up straight.

I then hang it BY THE STRING between two pegs on lower level of a bow rack so the bow itself can swing freely and there is absolutely NOTHING influencing the bow other than its weight on the string.  I let it sit like this for up to a month.

I have had very good luck like this and recently repaired a set of Robertson Vision limbs that had a twist in the upper limb...shot it a year afterwards and never returned.  Great shooting bow limbs.

[mahantango]

Guys, I'm not talking paint stripping heat here, just enough to get it warm, a blow dryer on low works fine too. Like most tools a heat gun is only as dangerous as the operator - a little common sense is in order. And yes, many minor twists can be corrected with no heat at all.

[lbshooter]

I have had a few bows that I have straightened.  I have generally tested for twist by just looking at the alignment of the string with the string grooves on the limb.  I have found that by twisting in the opposite direction with no heat, the twist will come out but many times return after shooting the bow letting it sit.  Mild heat from a hair drier or warm water will fix it permanently.  It may take a couple of tries with a bad twist,

[Dan Jones]

Sometime in the late 60's or early 70's, Victor Berger(a top target archer of the day) shoot a perfect indoor round at a tournament in Detroit. Those standing behind him could see a noticeable twist in one of the limbs of his bow as he came to full draw!

[PaulRoberts]

For what its worth: I only had one lam bow with a limb twist -a pretty good one on the lower limb. Apparently it had been leaned upright in a closet corner unused for some time before it was given to me. I hung it on my bow rack on the wall and let it collect dust. A few months later it had straightened itself out. That bow just needed some breathing space! I think we all end up a little twisted cooped up like that!  

[RickE]

A friend bought a used Hoyt Buffalo and I went and picked it up for him.  They had strung it many times without a bow stringer and I'm sure other bad things as well.  The one limb was twisted badly.  So much so I would have been afraid to shoot it.  I strung the bow and just gently twisted it it back to center or a little past.  I left it strung and would check on it every once in a while.  If it needed it I would twist it back to proper alignment.  I left it strung the whole time and by the next morning it was fine.  He's been shooting it for about 6 months or so and it's stayed perfectly straight after my 'fix'.  I wouldn't apply any heat to a twisted limb.  Just twist if back to shape.  Most bows 'want' to return to center!!  They just need a little encouragement.  Rick.

[Coyote Commander]

Thanks for all the help fellas!

I have not shot, nor strung the bow yet (waiting on a string).

Ill see what it looks like strung, and go from there. Sounds like what little twist there is should be pretty easy to fix.

Thanks again!