I had the same result with purpleheart. I bend it around paddle edges, and the heat gun just seems to make it more brittle. Steaming is definitely the way to go. I built a simple steam box out of four pieces of cedar with continuous dovetails running the entire length. The dovetails are cut slightly loose, but after about 20 minutes of steaming the whole thing swells up practically air tight.

Simon

: dont know if anyone cares, but i just steamed the combing lip on my
: guillemot.

: i used the tea kettle/PVC pipe setup.

: tea kettle on the stove, pvc running down into the sink for drainage. rags in
: one end and aluminum foil on the kettle end. the PVC will get ho and sag,
: so i used a coffe cup for support in the middle.

: when it was done about 20 min. i turned off the kettle, grabbed the aluminum
: foil and lifted off the kettle and closed up the end then carred the whole
: pvc pipe to the kayak outside. both ends closed to keep in the steam. the
: spring clamps were already waiting and the bundle of 4, 1/8th inch, strips
: were tied with bows of string for easy removal. but the strips stayed
: togeteher in book matched fasion.

: BTW i was wearing mecanics gloves. heat resitant, this is hot and dangerous.
: dont burn down your house.

: but it worked grat and now i have half a combing lip.

: i tried the heat gun, but the purple heart was too dry and brittle, it took
: forever just to get one strip around. the steaming got it all don in 30
: MIN including prep. but now i have to wait till tommorow to do thwe other
: half.