Help bamboo bow

[Doods70]

Hi everyone.

Hoping to get advice on improving a bamboo bow I have. Its a solid piece (not glued or laminated) that draws about 16 pounds.

I hope to increase draw weight but do not want to pike it because it will be too short.

Can I back this solid piece of bamboo with another layer and glue or epoxy it to increase draw weight?

Its a traditional bow, no shelf and its a longbow. It also bends through the handle.

Thank you
Doods

[KenH]

You certainly can back bamboo with bamboo... or ipe...or osage... or whatever suits your fancy.  How much do you want to increase the weight?  

Picture, please....

[Sam Harper]

So it's just a bamboo pole or something?

[Doods70]

Thank you for your replies. The bow is 61 inches long, pulling 16 lbs at 24 inches. I can pull it more and it does not stack. Bends through the handle. Hoping to back it and get at least 30lbs. Is that possible? photos here:

 https://www.facebook.com/aimrightarcheryrange/photos/pcb.752140424828823/752140301495502/?type=1&theater

Thank you,
Doods

[KenH]

First, you should be able to get a full 28" draw from a 61" bamboo slat bow. Drawing to 28" from 24" should take your draw weight up around 20#-22# anyway.

You can increase the draw weight without even gluing anything to the bow, using a technique called "loose laminate" that was popular in China a thousand years ago.  You'll want to get a 1/8" thick length of bamboo, oak or maple that is about as wide as the bow in the center and a couple inches shorter than the length from nock to nock.

Center the new lamination on the back of the bow and start lashing, on either side of the handle with something like the thin paracord  you can get from Michaels, or other strong thin cord.  Make about 5 loops and tie it off.  Seal the lashings with superglue.
     
Repeat about every 5"-6" until you reach the ends of the new lamination.

[Doods70]

hhmmmm...will have to give it a try. Will recurving the tips help in adding draw weight?

Thank you
Doods

[KenH]

Don't think you'll be able to recurve those tips without more work than you really want to undertake.  I don't think it would add anything...

[Doods70]

Thank you