First Turkish Bow Build

mikekeswick · Post by **mikekeswick** » Sun Dec 13, 2015 7:53 am

What thickness of wood have you bent Arry? Kiln dried or air dried.
What I said about boiling versus steam is in relation to 17 - 19mm thick wood and Turkish forms.
Boiled wood gets a better heat soak. Steam is too prone to having different heat levels in the same box. I've steamed wood then tested the surface temp with an infra red thermometer and there can be quite big differences with a steam set up. As long as water is boiling you cannot have that problem.

Allen Elishewitz · Post by **Allen Elishewitz** » Mon Dec 14, 2015 2:01 pm

There is a thermometer at the door end of my box; the steam comes from the back end. As explained on a woodworking forum, 212 degrees is 212 degrees; the secret is getting moist heat into the wood. If I could have made a big pressure box that would probably have been the ideal but this is for fun and an experiment.
I can understand your point where boiling is that temperature throughout the entire water but if the steam box is done properly, I hope it would yield the same results. For the thick core 17-19mm wood I believe it is really important it has a good amount of time soaking in water prior to boiling or steaming.
For me the only part that is going to be a hassle bending, is going to be the tips because I am planning on making a 5 piece bow and the thickest parts are the tips. But there are ways around helping the bend as other makers on this forum have shown; relieving material at the corner of the bend.

Arry · Post by **Arry** » Mon Dec 14, 2015 8:00 pm

Mike, both green (that was boiled and bent easily of course) and air-dried (steamed in a plastic tube). As to thickness, I don't remember which one of those was steamed: 14, 17 or 19mm.
Having said all that - I then bought a fish kettle and boiled the air-dried lathes that I bent last time. It's more tidy, so tolerance for doing it in the kitchen is bigger

mikekeswick · Post by **mikekeswick** » Tue Dec 15, 2015 8:36 am

Five piece core - then you will have no problem. Having the tips separate means that a lot of the stress of bending them is avoided. Bending a five piece core is a breeze compared to a 3 piece.
This is what i've been doing on my last few bows as well. I now tend to cut off 'grown in' recurves. Just look where branches come off the main trunk. As long as the section is about 4 inch diameter then there is enough wood for two tips and they are very strong as they haven't been weakened by heat. If the shape is a little off then it's only a tweak with heat to correct the shape.

Allen Elishewitz · Post by **Allen Elishewitz** » Tue Dec 15, 2015 1:56 pm

That is why I chose a 5 piece, I felt it was going to be a less problematic build. Since the tip is the one more prone to breaking, I wouldn't want to go through the trouble of getting a nice piece of wood that is long for the tip and core to end up breaking it; it just seems a lot easier to replace the tips.