which oil for bending Osage?

[macbow]

Finally getting some Osage to the point of using the heat gun. I've read about using oil to protect the wood and help in transferring heat.
What is your preferred oil to use on Osage?
Thanks, Ron

[carver]

whatever you got

[carver]

not motor oil

[T Folts]

cooking vegetable oil

[Hermann From Bavaria]

i´ve used
linseed oil and floor polish wax. the wax gets liquid when heat treated, and goes into the wood. it works great

greets
herm

[4est trekker]

I use olive oil almost all the time.  It smells like an Italian kitchen when it gets hot.  Vegetable oil will work equally as well.

[longbowhntr]

I've used vegetable oil with pretty good results but picked up a tip from Brad Merkel that was....

Grape Seed Oil!!!  Have had much less scorching and seems to hold the heat better (??).
David

[shamus]

I use olive oil.

[Osagetree]

I've used crisco grease, vegetable oil, linseed oil and mineral oil all with about equal results. The linseed smells the most!

[macbow]

Thanks everyone, about ready to try it.
Ron

[mullet]

I've got a can of Crisco in my shop 'Fridge. Just grab a handfull and smear it in. Smells like fried chicken cooking.

[No-sage]

I never use oil at all.  Osage heats and bends just fine without it.

[Curt Brisky]

I've used Crisco. My bow shrunk....that's why they call it shortning

[scrub-buster]

If you are going to sinew back it, make sure you get all of the oil off/out of it.  I learned the hard way.

[Shaun]

I'm with No-sage, I don't like using oil. Not convinced it does anything for the process. Heat and patience work just fine.

[George Tsoukalas]

I use beacon grease. Jawge

[osageo]

well, i've built a few osage bows, ( over 400 ) and i use steam , just a big pot on a hot plate with a piece of aluminum foil over it for 30 or 40 min. for short section , or i've got a stainless 4 in pipe , capped bottom , put a rock in bottom , about 4 in. of water , bring to full boil . pipe is 3 ft. tall steam whole bow limb at a time . get vise ready , good pair of gloves , gerk bow out , clamp hamdle in padded jaws , bend limb past point needed and ease back to where it needs to be and hold for a good while. makes perminate bend . if it needs to tweek a spot , i have used an old coffee pot , same manner . tony bell