All bamboo laminate bow?

[nyamazan]

I am thinking of making an all bamboo laminated bow without glass backing. I have made a couple of all Maple laminated bows, also without glass backing, that came out all right but with about 3/4" string follow.

My first question is; Is making an all bamboo bow possible as I have only read of the boo used for cores or backing.

The second is; is making a laminated bow without the glass lams defeating the object of the whole process?

My whole reason in doing this is to try and use wood that is available for free in this country and to try to avoid importing the glass. We are not as fortunate as you blokes with the local woods available for suitable bow material.

Many thanks.

[Bowjunkie]

Yes, it's possible. Folks do it all the time. The most successful use unviolated outer portions of the bamboo for back AND belly, and grind a tapered one for the center lam.

No, doing so defeats no purpose or object. If the object is to make good bows without glass, all bamboo is one proven way to do it.

I greatly prefer bows without glass.

[Black Mockingbird]

Haven't made one yet..but I plan/want to at some point....+1 bowjunkie....the belly will have to be tempered pre glue up

[nyamazan]

Bowjunkie, thanks for the information.

Black Mockingbird, do you mean a ground lam would have to be tempered for the belly or an unviolated one?

[Black Mockingbird]

The belly piece you leave the nodes alone just as you would for a backing piece...and the nodes will face out just as a backing strip will..and you will have to temper the face with the unviolated nodes before glue up..and you will not be able to tiller normally as you would on a all wood laminate bow from the belly because the nodes can not be violated the same as it would be for a backing..your thickness tapers need to be figured out pre glue up to give you good tiller and the draw weight you desire(much like a glass lam bow)...you can adjust the tiller slightly from the sides,but that's more for reducing weight....its not an easy build and requires much precalculation...and trial and error(especially if you've never built a bow or several before)

[nyamazan]

That seems like a a job for a well experienced bowyer!

I thought maybe I could use ground laminations on the belly and back, I'm assuming the bamboo would splinter?

What if I used linen to back the bow or am I on the wrong track. Sorry for the stupid questions or ideas and thanks for your patience.

[wood carver 2]

I'm still relatively new to bow building, but I have managed to build two all bamboo longbows.
The back lam is 1/8" thick in the middle and tapers to 1/16" at the tips. Same with the belly lam, which I tempered using a blow torch. The middle lam is planed on both sides and is about 3/16" thick. I also used a power lam that is about 6" longer than the riser.
This might not be the right way to do things, but it worked for me.
You'll have to experiment some to get the weight you desire.
Good luck!
Dave.

[nyamazan]

Thanks for that wood carver2.

I think making weight is going to be a job. I'm thinking of cuttting a 1/8" square lam and using a spine tester for this piece of wood so I have reference as to what to do with the next bow should this one be over/under weight.

Thanks for your time

[AkDan]

If you dig around here you'll find some posts on Mr Lee's video on bows by John Schulz.   I have it, and I'll try and dig up his info on getting you a copy.  It'll give you some ideas as to how to go about it.  These are all boo bows but the belly lam is without nodes.  I'm sure you could still add the belly lam if you so wanted.


There's other folks out there that had at one point built similar bows along with the few current ones.   No one really talks about the how too.  

A few years back the guy to watch was Vinson Miner, bows of wood.  He had a laminated back and belly with lams not nessicarly all boo, but man they were striking!   He fell off the face of the earth.   If you can find one, grab it!   or atleast inspect it closely!!!  

The belly lam nodes are off set to counteract the stiff spots on the backs nodes.   You'll tiller as much as you can from the sides.   You may be able to pretiller to a degree......

[nyamazan]

Thanks AkDan,

My searching skills ain't that good but I'll give it a go.

You say the belly lam has no nodes, not sure I understand, or do you mean it is a ground lam?

Maybe the reason there's no talk on the how too is blokes have spent a lot of time trying different approaches, which I can respect. Also what's taken for granted as a known method by experienced builders is kind of foreign to a new builder.

Thanks for your help.

[canopyboy]

I've built with bamboo for back, core and belly.  I used laminated for the core and pre-tillered the back and belly strips: you can bend them individually to check the curvature and use calipers and some attention to detail to come up with a good tiller on the final product.  Tough to also make weight exactly, but if you're a little flexible...

You can temper the bamboo on the belly side first as was mentioned for a little extra in the bow.  But I also think you can make a fairly servicable bow using bamboo backed lamboo - no third belly lamination.  It will take slightly more set, but better than wood.

Finally, you can always add the belly lamination later. I've done this before too.  Glue up the back and core and if under weight or other problems I've carefully flattened the belly out and added the tempered belly lam.  (Although that one had an ipe core.)

Best thing you can do is start trying and learning.  And you're on the right track I think by using wood easy to obtain locally during the learning process.

[nyamazan]

Thanks for the advice. Greatly appreciated.

[PZee]

Hey Nyamazan,

Great to see fellow Saffas on here.

I have made a few all Boo bows, they are great if done correctly. You need to add about 4inches (10cm) of reflex and virtually no reflex as they take set. Also depending on the local Boo you get you will more than likely have to heat treat the belly. Here is a brilliant build...

 http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=125;t=001887

I'll be in Durbs for Christmas, let me know if you want to get together.

Pete

[nyamazan]

Good to hear from you P
Zee. I will look into that build.

Enjoy Durban, we should get together, not many stick shooters in my area that I know of.

[PZee]

Not many here either. Are you based in Durbs? I'm in Jozi for my sins..... Lived in Zululand about 12yrs ago... Beautiful place, this was before the UK for 10yrs. Back home now.

[AkDan]

Yup on Johns bows, and I believe Dave Miller and Nate Steens they are flat lams on the belly.  

Vinson Minors had nodes back and belly.

I think its more of a trade secret if you will.  

tempering is easy, use a propane torch and the wide 'nozzle'.   You don't need fancy ovens or anything to temper boo.   Do some digging in the bamboo fly rod stuff...you'll be surprised how much the two cross over.

[nyamazan]

Thanks AkDan, I did find some pictures but as you say the process is probably a builders secret they have found by years of practice.

I believe I do have enough info for a build now, and what's the worst that could happen!!

[Roy from Pa]

BOOM... LOL

[nyamazan]

The sound of my arrow hitting the hardwood tree after a pass through?

[Roy from Pa]

Yes:)