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Old 08-11-2004 | 02:03 PM
  #2  
Arthur P
Giant Nontypical
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 9,175
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Default RE: Recurve Restoration

If the limbs are twisted, that is something you can fix yourself. Some bows are beyond help and nothing can save them, but most can be straightened out.

Start out by stringing the bow up and twisting the limb in the opposite direction of it's twist. Go a little past center then let it go back to resting position. Keep at it until the string rides down the center of the limb like it's supposed to. Do the same to the other limb. Draw the bow and let down slowly. If the string stays centered in each limb, you're done. If not, you've got more straightening to do.

I like to hang the bow out in the hot sun for an hour after I get it straightened out to help reset the glue in the limbs. Some disagree with me on that though.

If you can't get the limbs straight like that, keep the bow unstrung and straighten the twists with heat. Some like using a hair dryer to heat the limb, I like running the limbs under hot water in the bath tub. Whichever... Just be careful with the dry heat or you can delaminate the limb.

Heat the limb, then twist it opposite the way it's twisted. Repeat until the limbs look straight. Then, string it up and check for how the string lays on the limbs. If it's still twisted a bit, then you can bump it into alignment using the first method I told you about.
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