Heat bending, when is it too late?

[razorsharptokill]

For an Osage selfbow, at what point in the tillering process is it too late to dry heat bend? Can string follow be corrected once the limbs are tillered?

[Pat B]

It's never too late. You can heat correct any time...but you can't eliminate string follow with heat. Sometimes you can reduce the amount but string follow is the wood cells in the belly compressing and collapsing. Gradually and gently bringing a bow to tiller is the best medicine to start with.
   All of this comes with time and after a few bows. Some folks get it right away and some of us take longer.  d;^)

[shamus]

I do not like applying heat to a tillered limb.

After tillering,  I limit heat bending to non-moving parts of the bow, like the tips and handle.

[razorsharptokill]

Yeah I was thinking of doing just the tips.

[Pat B]

By flipping the tips you are adding more stress to already over stressed limbs. Could cause more set. Sometimes it is better to be satisfied with your outcome and make your next attempt better. As long as you are learning from your mistakes there are no failures.

[George Tsoukalas]

The best time is after floor tillering.The more you get the limbs bending the less effective is heat bending. Osage hat bends well. There is another point. Areas that do not bend much like the tips and handle (handle set back) area can be reflexed right up to full draw or just before. I agree with Pat. Make another bow.    Jawge

[razorsharptokill]

Sounds good.

[ChristopherO]

You're talking a self bow.  Once backed it's too late with many glues, though.  I've learnt on a sinew backed bow that heat and glue isn't compatable and all that hard work can go to nought.