Question regarding Glassbacking a boo bow

[BrokenStix]

Hello all, new bowyer in the works here, with 5 broken bows under my sleeve hehe. My newest project being a natural bamboo board bow with cherry tip overlays and a cherry riser, at some point i will carbonize the belly of the boo. I really like how they are coming together and would like the safety of a backed bow, but the transparency of *ahem* fiberglass to still see the grain pattern of the boo and cherry.

  Would it be safe for the bamboo to use 1/2oz (light) fiberglass cloth ? and for applying the glass cloth, could/should i use 20min finish-cure epoxy, or possibly 3m auto house and marine fiberglass resin?  

Ive hunted around for smooth-on and urac but havent had any luck finding these products. Even titebond is out of the question, so gorilla wood glue has become a close friend for my glue up projects as it seems to be the one who doesnt give before the limbs.

[Pat B]

Bamboo lumber isn't very strong in compresion so the FG might overpower it. A backing of elm or hard maple might be a better option.
As far as glue goes any good carpenters glue will work for you with the boo and maple or elm.
  Tempering the boo might cause problems because it is laminated and the heat might affect the glue.

[BrokenStix]

Hmmm ok thanks, i was worried i might hear that lol. Since bamboo is naturally straight grained, is it possible to use it by itself, or does it need a backing because of the fact its a bunch of verticle lams

[Pat B]

You can use it by itself but you probably won't get a strong bow from it. A wood backing would allow you to get a bow in the 45# range or maybe a little more.

[LittleBen]

I'm with Pat, wood backing is incredibly strong on wood bows. I've never had a hickory backing fail fwiw. I hear many good things about maple as pat mentioned, but frankly hickory is cheaper and stronger and easy to find as finished backing ... might be a little too strong for ana ll aboo bow. I think Mike YAncy at Pine Hollow Longbows has hickory and maple available as backing strips. He's a sponser here I think.

[BrokenStix]

Thanks guys, muchly appreciate the info, i might have to check out windsor plywood and see what they have available also, and i wish hickory was as easy to come by out here. i payed close to 100$ for a 7ft piece of hickory which was roughly 3x6,  :(  osage is even worse at 30 a board foot