Hi Sage,

When I had to do this on just the last 2' of a long strip I did not steam. I soaked the ends for a few days and then while I was twisting them I wet and wet (with a spray bottle and rag) the end of the strip and that was enough for me, but the strip was picked for grain with this twisting in mind too. Maybe I was just lucky because my twists (NS bow) were severe, but I wetted and slowly clamped it more and more into place. As for the steaming I did do, I just used an old tea kettle with a 30" piece of white, thick, 1 1/2" plactic pipe (PVC?, drilled some holes through it to allow for 1/4" dowels every 10" inches or so to make sort of a platform to hold the strips in the center of the pipe) set it up with a little wood underneath for support (the pipe kinda droops if you don't). Soak the ends of the strips ahead of time in water (as long as a week or as little as an hour depending on your schedule) and then get a good rolling boil going (tilt the pipe slighty down so that the condensation flows back into the kettle (otherwise you may run out of water) and work out an arraingement to stick the 2' ends into the steam pipe and somehow find a place for the rest of the strip to "hang out". I stuck a rag in the end of the pie after I put the strips in to hold in the steam. Steam the strips for at least 15 minutes, I think I would leave mine in 20. and move fast when you take it out. I did my bow just fine with out that although I did steam a lot of small strips for the tail. Lots of pieces because I ended up making 3 tails, the first I knew was practice, but I thought I had it on the second one, that was until my good friend came over and I showed it to him. I said here it is, and he said but what about "that" and what about "this" (pointing) and I said yeah .... and then he said that's why this one is practice too. I love the guy cause he keeps me real both ways when sometimes he tells me I am over doing it with some part or other. Thanks also for you answer to my post about what's happening in So. Cal. Got in so late and just checked this board and put this answer out, and hope others have better advise for you. Check that other post out tomorrow.

Arthur