Dip time?

[jkekoni]

How long do you think the wood need to be immersed?

Adam writes 1 week for green wood, 2 for air dried and 3 for lumber yard wood. Slow, but surely working.

I just immersed commercial maple for 4 days and cooked it in water for 1.5-2h in vertical container and it was bending very well.

I am using "continuous curve" instead of sharp turns, so the bending may be easier. I know the original have sharp bends, but I am wondering are they there for technical reason or to make 3 piece bow to look like 5 piece one?

[Uli]

in principle every detail in original bows can be regarded as intentional or ?

the most secure and easiest way to get sharp bends done is green wood.
protection by a metal backstrip is also good

I made same experience as you with dried wood

[leehongyi]

Dip time is not the most important factor that affects bending degree.
in my opinion, kinds of wood and bending method select are more important.
Such as mulberry, maple would go well. And boiling bending is more effective than steam.

[Arry]

And boiling bending is more effective than steam.

Very interesting advice, especially as I am pondering to switch from steaming to boiling. What do the others think of boiling vs steaming?

[Kviljo]

Boiling soaked green wood makes it incredibly bendy. Steam is probably ok if one manages to steam it properly, but I never had any real luck with it.

[jkekoni]

Boiling soaked green wood makes it incredibly bendy.

Boiling soaked kiln dried wood also makes is incredible bendy.

I have used 3mm phenolic paper instead of metal stripe. It can be easily cut with a band saw blade meant for hardwoods.

Also not using strap in an option, because more tools take more time, and time is critical resource when bending.

[jkekoni]

What do the others think of boiling vs steaming?

Boiling works and is easy. (I have heard that other have made steaming to work, but I have newer succeeded.)