I use the hot oil method and heat white heat lamps like in Docs picture trail. I would hazard a guess that if the stock separated from the receiver it was because the through bolt wasn't tight enough. I've never had that problem bending a through bolt gun. How do you tell if the wood is hot enough? Does the stock bend easy? If not, it's not hot all the way through [ to the middle ] . Just because the oily rag is hot to the touch, it doesn't mean the center of the stock is hot. I've never heard of useing tin foil. To me, that would reflect the heat. Besides, I've never had the hot oil hurt a finish. I've heard of some guys useing a micro wave oven with holes cut in the ends to heat wood when making recurve bows. There are probably ways we've never heard of that work. Paul
