Recurved selfbow limbs

[Possum Head]

Is recurving limbs usually the last of the building process or is additional tillering usually necessary? Reason I asked both bows I’ve decided to recurve were tillered close before steaming and needed additional work following. I’m not hung up on curving but was curious if I could get it done.

[Pat B]

Some folks recurve early on in the process like at floor tiller time. I like to get to at least low brace so I can see any twist in the limbs under stress and to be sure the tips line up. You can successfully recurve the tips on a bow that has been tillered but you have to realize you will be stressing the limbs more so you will have to re-tiller the bow out carefully so you don't over stress the limbs. It's like drawing a finished bow another 3" to 4" beyond full draw. Just remember the old selfbow adage...a bow fully drawn is 9/10th broken.

[Eric Krewson]

I like to recurve before I floor tiller because have more meat in the curve to file away if I get some cracking. I also leave my tips wide and do my final tip alignment when I get to normal brace, sometimes it takes a little heat to get everything lined up right.

[Mo_coon-catcher]

I do very similar to Erik Krewson except I recurve once I’m happy with the floor tiller. That way it’s thin enough to bend pretty easy but thick enough that 1/16” cracks can easily be removed without worry. Even once steamed, have a heat gun handy Incase the wood is still a bit reluctant to bend. A little extra heat from the gun can help convince the wood to go around the form. I focus the heat on the spot that’s ready to touch the form. Applying it in a side to side swiping motion. Once it touches the form move up to the next part ready to touch. Instead of heating the entire section at once. That keeps hinging from starting that results in cracks and angular recurves.

Kyle

[Possum Head]

Thanks for the knowledge men!

[wapitishooter]

Question fellas, Ive been building selfbows out of hickory boards and they turned out nice and shoot well. My question is I want to try and make recurve out of this wood, what is best way to heat limbs and will this bend well?

[Pat B]

Steam or boiling for hickory.

[Robyn Hode]

Pat when you say 'Steam or boiling for hickory.' Do I actually put the end on the limb in the boiling water? Does boiling work better than steaming?

[KenH]

Yes, you actually put the end in boiling water until it softens enough to bend.  You'll make 2 Tip Curve Jigs to clamp the tips into while they dry and set (call it a week).  Boil one end; bend and clamp; then repeat with the other end.

If you have a steam setup, or can make a simple one, it's probably faster than boiling, and less messy.  I've seen steaming rigs made from a garment steamer and PVC pipe.

[Pat B]

What Ken said.