Heather M Posted January 10 Report Posted January 10 Hey friends, I've been rehairing bows in a shop for about a year, but I'm hoping to be moving my operation home soon. I live in an apartment that doesn't allow any kind of open flame, so an alcohol lamp is out. I've heard rumors about heat guns or hot plates working well, but I'm having a hard time finding anyone's personal opinion. Has anyone tried any non-flame alternative that has worked well for rehairing, recambering, or other bow work? Any tips on making it work?
Chamberlain Posted January 10 Report Posted January 10 14 hours ago, Heather M said: Hey friends, I've been rehairing bows in a shop for about a year, but I'm hoping to be moving my operation home soon. I live in an apartment that doesn't allow any kind of open flame, so an alcohol lamp is out. I've heard rumors about heat guns or hot plates working well, but I'm having a hard time finding anyone's personal opinion. Has anyone tried any non-flame alternative that has worked well for rehairing, recambering, or other bow work? Any tips on making it work? Hi! I have not personally used anything but a flame. This post has alternative ideas for cambering. Hope it helps.
FiddleDoug Posted January 10 Report Posted January 10 I bet that something like this might work. An electric smores maker. https://www.amazon.com/Kusini-Electric-Tabletop-Removable-Skewers/dp/B0G2N7HYBT/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=313YPPTEY4D2F&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.fjT-DAsLHyD1gTKBAo694fWsWxbymOg7loxtatL4sWslS5BSo41kEq2yTvv2FU7-aCe1s0qHRP4fLOJO_SGfrJpfPrqqTTxglU6Rc0KoccnARiwPZiJXCusxxTzFUh2QAVDxpBWzZvCjSBZ1zeppOr9QvqvAZyCyzaCUJExxScoC2i9VX9bn8OkoO1WsSu_oG_2GrjK8Uqw5xrtlUOsnVgHNNrwBm6XIyrTdipoft8Jtbz3MoCZRzdDVEenI6xcCLXxf8pjbtEP4hRdT83gYDULTzHHzYBq2XwUb9n1naGI.CVT6a0jLiKg7iRx2xBhjAr16n2nlRS84p24824wG8IU&dib_tag=se&keywords=electric+s'mores+maker&qid=1768067327&s=home-garden&sprefix=electric+smores%2Cgarden%2C99&sr=1-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1
Rico Suave Posted January 10 Report Posted January 10 I use a heat gun. I met Bowmaker Rodney Mohr at the VSA Convention in Anaheim CA a few years ago and asked him why he used a flame instead of a heat gun and he said he didn't like the noise. Rodney Morhr's excellent bow crafting, start to finish; https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWEoIUgLaMSvXgIFewMa5reRx8Z1aBYp1
David Burgess Posted January 10 Report Posted January 10 A flame 39 minutes ago, Rico Suave said: I met Bowmaker Rodney Mohr at the VSA Convention in Anaheim CA a few years ago and asked him why he used a flame instead of a heat gun and he said he didn't like the noise. An alcohol lamp flame can also target the heat more accurately than a heat gun.
Rico Suave Posted January 11 Report Posted January 11 3 hours ago, David Burgess said: A flame An alcohol lamp flame can also target the heat more accurately than a heat gun. Yeah, but.... OP said; " I live in an apartment that doesn't allow any kind of open flame, so an alcohol lamp is out." Heat gun nozzle tips can be found on Amazon, etc., if a more 'accurate' albeit concentrated heat source is wanted.
Brad Dorsey Posted January 11 Report Posted January 11 23 hours ago, Heather M said: ...Has anyone tried any non-flame alternative that has worked well for...recambering...? Although I use an alcohol lamp now, I first learned to straighten and recamber bows with an electric hot plate for the heat source. I used the hot plate for a few years before switching. I thought it worked fine. The other thing that I commonly use the alcohol lamp for on bows is for flaming a new rehair to shrink the loose hairs. I have never tried this with the hot plate, so I don't know how well it would work.
Mike_Danielson Posted January 11 Report Posted January 11 Heather, you should get a heat gun. I have used a Bosch heat gun that came with a flat platform so it sits on the top of the bench and the outlet points slightly upwards (the angle is fully adjustable). I cannot find it for sale any longer. These heat guns are extremely hot--capable of burning the wood. The problem is how to adapt a heat gun so that it sits stably on the bench so you have both hands free. Perhaps a clamp on the heat gun will provide the necessary stability or maybe you can find one with a platform. Edit: Think I found a unit that will work on Amazon--small, compact and has a platform--called SEEKONE https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B08VFY8THD/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_plhdr=t&aaxitk=55d1b6b0a31a20ab140e429c2a8e342f&hsa_cr_id=0&qid=1768154020&sr=1-2-f02f01d6-adaf-4bef-9a7c-29308eff9043&ref_=sbx__sbtcd2_asin_1_img&pd_rd_w=xi4wX&content-id=amzn1.sym.e2c9099f-6964-4dbf-9ce9-8bc2c1a8ec1a%3Aamzn1.sym.e2c9099f-6964-4dbf-9ce9-8bc2c1a8ec1a&pf_rd_p=e2c9099f-6964-4dbf-9ce9-8bc2c1a8ec1a&pf_rd_r=KQMRC44M3BZB6TVJ09CN&pd_rd_wg=328HU&pd_rd_r=fc365319-3856-4e4e-9d04-dd082d7a8f2c
Alto Ego Posted January 11 Report Posted January 11 I have seen videos of Olaf The Violin Maker on Youtube use a heat gun on bows in his workshop. Looked like a Makita.
Nicholas Lewis Posted January 12 Report Posted January 12 I've seen wind/brass techs use these for some of their work: Vortex Air Torch. It may be overkill, but it has a very specific focus to the heat, and adjustments for temperature. I haven't come up with any excuse to get one, but may be a good solution if you do need heat in a really specific focus.
Woodland Posted January 12 Report Posted January 12 Even though I own a heat gun I've used a hot plate exclusively for the past 25 years for heating bow sticks. It covers a larger area than a flame or gun, plus no noise or open flame. Keep that bow stick moving to prevent scorching. I gauge how hot the stick is getting by periodically touching it to my lip as both hands are on the stick.
Brad Dorsey Posted January 12 Report Posted January 12 I have used both a hot plate and an alcohol lamp for straightening and cambering bows. I think that the advantage of the hot plate is in heating a large section of a bow faster than it could be done with the lamp. And the advantage of the lamp is in concentrating the heat in a smaller section than could be done with the hot plate.
M Alpert Posted January 13 Report Posted January 13 17 hours ago, Brad Dorsey said: I have used both a hot plate and an alcohol lamp for straightening and cambering bows. I think that the advantage of the hot plate is in heating a large section of a bow faster than it could be done with the lamp. And the advantage of the lamp is in concentrating the heat in a smaller section than could be done with the hot plate. I'll second these thoughts exactly. And both are considerably more quiet than a heat gun! And a hot plate has no flame. But if you need to camber a small area, it may be challenging.
FiddleDoug Posted January 13 Report Posted January 13 4 minutes ago, M Alpert said: I'll second these thoughts exactly. And both are considerably more quiet than a heat gun! And a hot plate has no flame. But if you need to camber a small area, it may be challenging. I think that might be where a smores maker (as in my previous post) might be a winner. The heating ares is only a couple inches across.
M Alpert Posted January 13 Report Posted January 13 Never heard of those! But I love s'mores might have to see if I can find one...
David Burgess Posted January 13 Report Posted January 13 On 1/10/2026 at 7:58 PM, Rico Suave said: Yeah, but.... OP said; " I live in an apartment that doesn't allow any kind of open flame, so an alcohol lamp is out." Indeed, but I was not responding to the OP. I was responding and adding to what was said by/about Rodney Mohr.
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