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Bamboo backed bows (Read 16129 times)

squirrelslinger

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Bamboo backed bows
Jan 6^th, 2013 at 12:07pm

I have Quite a bit of bamboo... very fresh, some not so-fresh.
I am planning to make a bamboo backed longbow.
I will probably either use eastern red ceder for the belly or use black locust. Those are the only two woods i can get enough of to make a bow... out of honeysuckle....
Any advice?
I am planning to make a small bow (about a meter)
then a full-size longbow with about a 40 pound draw.
THanks!

“Insanity is doing the same thing, over and over again, but expecting different results.”
"You don't think the electricity is off. You check it 3 times to make SURE its off"
"Remember, this is not a scalpel. It is a steel wedge that you will be slamming into knotty wood. Hone accordingly."

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Atlatlista Ex Member	Re: Bamboo backed bows Reply #1 - Jan 6^th, 2013 at 12:10pm Season the bamboo really well? That's about all I can think of. I plan to do some bamboo-backed red cedar at some point, so I'll be very interested to hear how yours go.
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squirrelslinger Interfector Viris Spurii Offline peace through superior firepower Posts: 2870 Ky, USA Gender:	Re: Bamboo backed bows Reply #2 - Jan 6^th, 2013 at 12:38pm Thanks.. THis will be like my 3rd SUCCESSFUL bow if it goes well. I also had a ceder javlin... but it broke, It was truly beautiful. It is really wierd to think that a weapon is beautiful...........
Back to top	“Insanity is doing the same thing, over and over again, but expecting different results.” "You don't think the electricity is off. You check it 3 times to make SURE its off" "Remember, this is not a scalpel. It is a steel wedge that you will be slamming into knotty wood. Hone accordingly." IP Logged

Masiakasaurus Forum Moderation Offline mah-SEE-a-kah-SOR-us Posts: 6069 Alabama, USA Gender:	Re: Bamboo backed bows Reply #3 - Jan 6^th, 2013 at 1:05pm I have heard -over and over- that bamboo is really strong in both tension and compression. If the bamboo backing is too thick it can cause compression fractures in the weaker wood that it's laminated to.
Back to top	Pikåru wrote on Nov 19^th, 2013 at 6:59pm: Massi - WTF? It's called a sling. You use it to throw rocks farther and faster than you could otherwise. That's all. ~Engineers like to solve problems. If there are no problems handily avialable, they will create their own problems.~ IP Logged

squirrelslinger Interfector Viris Spurii Offline peace through superior firepower Posts: 2870 Ky, USA Gender:	Re: Bamboo backed bows Reply #4 - Jan 6^th, 2013 at 1:20pm What about 2 layers of bamboo?
Back to top	“Insanity is doing the same thing, over and over again, but expecting different results.” "You don't think the electricity is off. You check it 3 times to make SURE its off" "Remember, this is not a scalpel. It is a steel wedge that you will be slamming into knotty wood. Hone accordingly." IP Logged

Bill Skinner

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Re: Bamboo backed bows
Reply #5 - Jan 6^th, 2013 at 1:26pm

Thin the snot out of the bamboo. Do not cut the outside of the bamboo, do all your scraping and sanding on the inside. Be very careful when you sand the nodes on the outside, you do not want to damage the fibers, sand using high grit sandpaper and just enough to remove any sharp edges. Don't use any with mold on it, the mold will keep growing and eventually weaken the long fibers in the bamboo. When using a rasp, go from the back to the belly, start on the bamboo and go into the wood. Use a hacksaw blade and srore both the 'boo and the wood prior to glue up. Use Titebond II or III, you can get them from Home Depot.

I called my brother, he's the one who has made several BBO (bamboo backed 0sage) bows, that's his advice up top. His other piece of advice was to build the bow as if you were not planning on backing it, then put the 'boo on as insurance, the same way as when you use linen or silk or something similar to keep it from breaking...and you may have to retiller slightly once the glue is set.

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Bill Skinner

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Re: Bamboo backed bows
Reply #6 - Jan 6^th, 2013 at 1:33pm

You posted as I was typing, there is a guy who makes bamboo laminate bows, he puts a 1/8 inch (2mm) layer of wood between the 'boo, he also uses heat to add reflex and deflex. He glues the inside of the 'boo to the wood. The center wood is just a spacer, the 'boo does all the work, he knows enough to get his poundage from knowing how thick to thin the 'boo down to, he makes them from about 35 to 70 pounds. Be advised, he has made a whole bunch of them.

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Mauro Fiorentini Forum Moderation Offline Forge your future with the hammer of your mind! Posts: 3442 Ancona, Italy. Gender:	Re: Bamboo backed bows Reply #7 - Jan 6^th, 2013 at 2:07pm Topic added in Weapon's Index Greetings, Mauro.
Back to top	Like! https://www.facebook.com/Arte-Picena-238289793027749/timeline/ Greetings, Mauro. Mauro Fiorentini - 339-525 IP Logged

Dan

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Re: Bamboo backed bows
Reply #8 - Jan 6^th, 2013 at 2:39pm

What Bill said.

Also, using the BL and the boo is a recipe for chryssals. BL is usally pretty weak in compression as is, and with the extra tensions support on the back the back will likly over power the belly.

The ERC backed with boo would probably work pretty well. ERC isn't great in tension so the bamboo should totatly compensate.

Have you made a self bow before?

I'd definitly suggest doing that first before you invest all the time and effort in a backed bow.

I was pretty good at slinging like 10 years ago.

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squirrelslinger Interfector Viris Spurii Offline peace through superior firepower Posts: 2870 Ky, USA Gender:	Re: Bamboo backed bows Reply #9 - Jan 6^th, 2013 at 5:06pm Yes ive made a self bow.... But i have access to only ceder in 3-7 foot pieces about 2 inches, ceder 3 ft 2-5 inches, and black locust up to 3 inches by 6 feet.... Bamboo, any length and up to 2 inches... So just a bamboo, wood spacer, bamboo? or how bout bamboo and oak? 3 foot bow, about 20 pounds is what im looking for.
Back to top	“Insanity is doing the same thing, over and over again, but expecting different results.” "You don't think the electricity is off. You check it 3 times to make SURE its off" "Remember, this is not a scalpel. It is a steel wedge that you will be slamming into knotty wood. Hone accordingly." IP Logged

Morphy Slinging.org Moderator Offline Checkmate Posts: 8221	Re: Bamboo backed bows Reply #10 - Jan 6^th, 2013 at 5:07pm You can back ERC with boo but I would not. You will need to get that bamboo strip really thin. That's just my own personal tastes though. Black locust would be a better bet IMO. ERC works like a charm with sinew and pre stressed silk though.
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squirrelslinger Interfector Viris Spurii Offline peace through superior firepower Posts: 2870 Ky, USA Gender:	Re: Bamboo backed bows Reply #11 - Jan 6^th, 2013 at 5:22pm A question. What does ERC, IMO, Etc mean? I am not exactly an experianced bowyer....
Back to top	“Insanity is doing the same thing, over and over again, but expecting different results.” "You don't think the electricity is off. You check it 3 times to make SURE its off" "Remember, this is not a scalpel. It is a steel wedge that you will be slamming into knotty wood. Hone accordingly." IP Logged

Masiakasaurus Forum Moderation Offline mah-SEE-a-kah-SOR-us Posts: 6069 Alabama, USA Gender:	Re: Bamboo backed bows Reply #12 - Jan 6^th, 2013 at 5:31pm ERC=Eastern Red Cedar IMO=In My Opinion
Back to top	Pikåru wrote on Nov 19^th, 2013 at 6:59pm: Massi - WTF? It's called a sling. You use it to throw rocks farther and faster than you could otherwise. That's all. ~Engineers like to solve problems. If there are no problems handily avialable, they will create their own problems.~ IP Logged

squirrelslinger Interfector Viris Spurii Offline peace through superior firepower Posts: 2870 Ky, USA Gender:	Re: Bamboo backed bows Reply #13 - Jan 6^th, 2013 at 5:41pm Thanks.. so a piece of oak.. would make a good belly? on the bow. I have very little eastern red ceder... Maybe another honeysuckle... Also.. If i made an all bamboo bow and put a spacer in the middle... Should I make the belly thicker than the back?
Back to top	“Insanity is doing the same thing, over and over again, but expecting different results.” "You don't think the electricity is off. You check it 3 times to make SURE its off" "Remember, this is not a scalpel. It is a steel wedge that you will be slamming into knotty wood. Hone accordingly." IP Logged

Morphy Slinging.org Moderator Offline Checkmate Posts: 8221	Re: Bamboo backed bows Reply #14 - Jan 6^th, 2013 at 5:56pm What Masi said. Oak will work better than ERC. But still, bamboo is really strong in tension. Try thinning it to a 1:4 ratio or so. Your best luck will probably come from Osage, Ipe or other woods that are very dense with high compression strength.
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