moisure in ash self bow

[Lee Lobbestael]

I just finished tillering an ash self bow that I made out of a tree killed by emerald ash bore. I did not know how long it had been dead but assumed it to be dry enough to make a bow out of. After tillering it i am convinced that it still contains moisture.

I have access to a perfect heating bow at work with heating lamps and temp controlls.

How hot should I heat it to dry it out and how long should I do it for?

[Diamondback59]

LEE STICK IN IN THE BOX ABOUT 95 100  DO THOSE BOXES HAVE SMALL FANS ON EM ?  IF SO ID RUN IT ABOUT 90  LEAVE IT IN A WEEK OR 2  IF YA CAN WEIGHT THE BOW  BEFOR U DO THEN PUT IT  IN THE HOT BOX   WEIGH IT EVERY FEW DAYS   WHEN IT WEIGHS THE SAME 3 OR 4 TIMES IN A ROW STOPS LOSSING MOISTURE  IT S READY  BROCK

[2treks]

Maybe a good heat tempering on the belly would set you up nice. Leave it on the cull for 3-4 days after toasting and you should be good.

[Lee Lobbestael]

Two tracks, that sounds like somethin I would try. How would you go about doing it? I have a heat gun

[Diamondback59]

LEE I WOULD TOO BUT ID MAKE SURE THE SUCKE R S DRY  BEFOR I TRYED TEMPERING IT  BROCK

[Dano]

Marc St. Louis wrote a chapter on heat treating/tempering in The Traditional Bowyers Bible Vol.4. If your going to be building bows you'll want a copy of the book anyhow.

The procedure is pretty simple, clamp your bow to a caul with a little bit of reflex and heat the limbs slowly till the wood begins to turn a toasted brown. But as Diamondback59 said you may want to make sure the bow is dry first or it could check badly.