Very cool! Love that you kept working through the process and ended up making something you really like. Can't wait to see you hunt with it!

i like long bows anyway they are quiet and that's very cool

Red oak is my favorite board bow wood. When steam bending I boil the tip in a bucket for like 15 minutes then right onto the form, especially if it's cold out. Rad bow. Let's go shoot ptarmigan on x-country skis.

@Benjamin.stevens

7 ай бұрын

I’m down! I know a few spots.

I enjoy the expertise you show blended with the candid learning process you are going through. Regarding bending ash. I believe the steam bath needs to be continuous through the entire process and that more time is required i.e smaller increments over a longer period. Extremely entertaining mini movie. The power in the test shot is palpable!

@Benjamin.stevens

7 ай бұрын

Thanks!

Excellent video! You can try clamping metal strip on bow belly while heat bending the recurves, metal strip will keep bow from cracking, you can use old metal ruler for that or something like that…

@Benjamin.stevens

7 ай бұрын

Perfect, thanks! I’ll try that next time

The form that Clay Hayes uses isn't quite so acute. That's what caught my attention. The stress was too much for that short of a distance. Also, I bet he'd answer a question for you. You seem quite informed about how to build a bow though.

Awesome !

Nice Video. I had the same problem with bending ash, too. A friend told me to use a thin metal stipe on top of the wood. This method is also described in the book "the bowers bible". Alternative you can use a heat gun and some oil. Let the wood bend slowly with some weight at the other end.

@Benjamin.stevens

5 ай бұрын

Awesome thanks for the tips!

@stephanwieler1437

5 ай бұрын

@@Benjamin.stevens you are welcome. 🙂

I'm not an expert but from what I've seen with steam bending of wood I think the problem you were having is because it cooled and dried to quickly taking it from inside to the outside temperature. Again I'm no expert by any means. Great video.

@Benjamin.stevens

7 ай бұрын

Thank you, I’ll bring the jig inside next time!

I've had this same issue with Ash. I haven't had any luck with steam / boiling the limbs. I wouldn't do it with this particular wood

@Benjamin.stevens

7 ай бұрын

Ok good to know. My next piece will be maple. Hopefully that is better

Great effort. With regards to bending wood, it's better [imo] to bend wood when it's wet. Adding heat dry's out the wood and reverses the advantages related to boiling or steaming some species of wood. Making/using a wood steam box or PVC tubing and clamps works great. Here's a couple short tutorials-hope they help: kzread.info/dash/bejne/go2mk9SEaNO5Y5M.html kzread.info/dash/bejne/hmmmpqejd5Ondps.html You're going great-keep trying. God bless.

@Benjamin.stevens

7 ай бұрын

Thanks for the tips!