Damn, just stuffed up a privet longbow I had nearly finished by twisting it while heat treating the belly…. It was nearly finished but was taking a bit of set so I thought I would bend a bit of reflex into it by heat treating the belly while reverse stringing it. The bending seemed to work a treat, heaps of reflex stayed in after I took the string off, BUT … I was a bit sloppy and tied the string on a bit crooked, and it twisted the bow right out of shape. So much so that I couldn’t even string it normally the next day. I might have been able to heat it again and take out the twist but I was a bit over it by then and turned it into kindling...
Oh well, I guess it was a good learning experience and I will be more careful next time. I reckon that privet can make a good bow if treated right and I have a few other straight lengths here to start again with as well as the obligatory red oak board from Masters, so I am not going to be bored…
