Through inexperience I ran what was probably too many strips up (down?) from the shear strip when I started stripping the hull of my boat. I had gotten to the water line when I realized that I should probably install some cheater strips. This all seemed ok until I got to the shorter cheater strips and found that they would need a considerable twist to fit. I have been an avid reader of this board for months before I started this project so I have seen many recommendations concerning stubborn twists.

I am fortunate that I live only a few minutes from my place of employment so I go home for lunch and try to add another strip to the accumulated growth now on the forms. Yesterday, I came to the point that I had to do something about that twist and I didn't have time to steam or do something reasonable. So unreasonably I stuck the 18 inch piece I was working on in my microwave oven and cooked it for 30 seconds. When it was 'done' it came out hot and was easy to twist. I held it in a twist till it cooled and it held its shape. It's now a part of the boat.

Has anyone else done this? I'm wondering if I'll go out later and find that the piece has turned to dust or something? If it doesn't then it was a quick way to add a twist to a short strip.

Kyle T.