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https://slinging.org/forum/YaBB.pl General >> Other Primitive Weapons >> Pure Bamboo Bow https://slinging.org/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1215586788 Message started by oldavid on Jul 9^th, 2008 at 2:59am

Title: Pure Bamboo Bow
Post by oldavid on Jul 9^th, 2008 at 2:59am

Hello y'all! I'd like to start a project with my dad; making a bow out of just bamboo (excluding all the glue, ropes, cutters, saws, etc of course ;))
I tried finding a tutorial or something, but none came. Mostly there's just tutorials on how to glue bamboo strips to a wooden bow, or something of the likes. Can you guys help me?
Thanks! ;D

David

Title: Re: Pure Bamboo Bow
Post by curious_aardvark on Jul 9^th, 2008 at 7:29am

try asking these guys - although there may already be instructions on the forum :-)

http://www.bamboocraft.net/forums/index.php?s=b59aeda675a520a8306e721aa4650172

Title: Re: Pure Bamboo Bow
Post by JTK on Jul 9^th, 2008 at 7:48am

Google up The Bowyers den, its a good one.

Title: Re: Pure Bamboo Bow
Post by Bikewer on Jul 9^th, 2008 at 11:56am

Bamboo is a standard backing for bows. You can buy partially-finished blanks with the bamboo glued up allready from suppliers like Three Rivers Archery:

http://www.3riversarchery.com/Product.asp?c=49&s=201&p=0&i=8560X

(as a for-instance)

Making a bow entirely of bamboo is a bit more difficult; one easy way to do it is to build up a bow of short sections that overlap each other, sort of like this one:
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0163dpt4iNbUj/610x.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.daylife.com/photo/0163dpt4iNbUj&h=564&w=610&sz=81&hl=en&start=82&sig2=DqVXKrTSeTaTRRVuN8xUQg&tbnid=TtVPr_4VwEw-MM:&tbnh=126&tbnw=136&ei=ct90SLjnK6P-iQGk6uiRAQ&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbamboo%2Bbow%26start%3D63%26gbv%3D2%26ndsp%3D21%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN

It's also possible to cut and carefully glue narrow strips of bamboo; but that requires very precise cutting tools.

Title: Re: Pure Bamboo Bow
Post by oldavid on Jul 9^th, 2008 at 11:03pm

Thanks Bikewer! But weren't traditional Japanese bows pure bamboo?

Title: Re: Pure Bamboo Bow
Post by rob on Jul 10^th, 2008 at 8:47pm

http://www.bushcraftuk.com/index.php/DIY/Making-a-bow-out-of-bamboo.html

'panda' bow article w/ pictures. quick and fun to shoot.

Title: Re: Pure Bamboo Bow
Post by Bikewer on Jul 10^th, 2008 at 9:07pm

No, the traditional "yumi" bow is a composite. Built up with a core of Mulberry, the bamboo strips are overlaid onto the core. Construction is very difficult, by all accounts.

Here's a page with dimensions and construction:

http://eclay.netwiz.net/translat/kyudo.htm

Title: Re: Pure Bamboo Bow
Post by sv on Aug 4^th, 2008 at 6:16am

i made a very simple bow from 6 bamboos in about 45 seconds. it has a draw weight of about 15lbs so it can be used in the garden with reasonable safety.

SV

Title: Re: Pure Bamboo Bow
Post by sv on Aug 4^th, 2008 at 6:17am

here it is - i hope!

SV

bamboo_bow_001.jpg (1795 KB | )

Title: Re: Pure Bamboo Bow
Post by sv on Aug 4^th, 2008 at 6:20am

and the fantastic workmanship in all it's detail....

bamboo_bow_002.jpg (1269 KB | )

Title: Re: Pure Bamboo Bow
Post by timann on Aug 5^th, 2008 at 3:53pm

Hi, sv. My guess is your bow would be even more bow-like and traditional if you waried the lenghts of the bamboo sticks, like two short, two medium and two full lengths.
timann

Title: Re: Pure Bamboo Bow
Post by sv on Aug 6^th, 2008 at 9:06am

hi timann
yes you are right, it would improve the bow for obvious reasons, but this was a simple and quick project for one of my kids. it's a crude bow but it works well enough.

SV

Title: Re: Pure Bamboo Bow
Post by timann on Aug 10^th, 2008 at 12:30pm

Right you are, sv. As long it works, it is great ;)
After all, bow making fathers are great, I had one, and am one ;)
timann