Quick Question - gluing and baking a riser

[grouse11]

Okay, so I am about halfway through making another ILF riser, I have all the laminations glued in, limb pads cut, and limb pad overlays are gluing on right now. The problem is that I am 2 hours away at school during the week and come home on the weekends to hunt and work on it. I haven't been baking it, have just been letting the smooth-on cure for 24 hrs, mostly because I glue it and leave for school.

My question is, can I still bake it once it is all glued together to make the glue resistant to higher temps? I was thinking I could and I wouldn't need to clamp it because there is no or very little tension on the joints, without limbs on it.

Thanks,
Mark

[Al Dean]

If you bake it you do need to clamp it.

[grouse11]

okay, thanks, I probably won't bake it then and just keep it away from any heat

[JamesV]

Mark............

I cook a lot of risers in the kitchen stove oven. Mine will go down to 170 degrees. Next riser give it a try, set the timer for 4 hours and have someone take it out when it is done.

James

[Trux Turning]

Mark you will be fine without cooking it.

[grouse11]

James, That is actually what I did for my last two    It works great although I cant say my mom was as excited as I was, haha. I'll definitely cook the next ones just to be on the safe side

Dave, That is good to hear, I actually though about giving this to someone but was concerned that without cooking it wouldn't be as safe. You have made many more bows than me so I feel much better now    

Thanks everyone for the input

[Crooked Stic]

X2 on will be fine without cooking.The only reason I cook one is to speed up curing. Most times I do the riser first and it air cures while I get the limbs done.