Bamboo sources

[Fishinglink]

Need to buy some bamboo for backings. Found Echo archery to have great deals and the best shipping prices. If I buy 10 2”x72” pieces it is less than $11 per piece. Is buying raw bamboo poles cheaper in the long run or is this as good a deal as it seems? 

Thanks guys.


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[Roy from Pa]

You would be better off taking that deal as they come already flattened on the belly side.

It's no doubt Moso bamboo, it will work.

[Fishinglink]

Thanks Roy, when you say it will work, what do you mean?  I’m still learning so let’s see if we can get to terms I can equate. Do you mean like a breaker bar will work to remove lugnuts but an impact gun works better?  If so what is a better product? Or is there a negligible performance aspect from different boos? I’m looking at quantities that will last me 2-3 years so I wanna make sure it’s a good investment.


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[Roy from Pa]

Lots of guys use moso.

I use madake.

I think its better.

Just my opinion.

[Fishinglink]

Thanks again Roy.


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[504state]

I order mine online from Home Depot for $5 a pop. You can’t get it in stores only online and it’s $100 for 20 pieces. Held it side by side and it’s the Same exact stuff the archery sites sell for $15-20 each. I’ve used a good bit of it and have never had a problem.
If you simply must buy from a shop then I would spend the extra few bucks and get it flattened.
I like flattening my own though, I find it therapeutic.

[Pat B]

If I were going to invest in bamboo backings I'd buy the stuff that is sold as bow backing and not just what is available in the big box stores. Having it already prepped for bow backing, whether is be 2"x72" raw strips or taken down to glue on stage is a good way bow a first timer to get used to using boo for backing.
The first boo backed bow I made was in a class with Vinson Minor. Vinson had up take the raw boo slats down to a flat glue surface with a hand plane which worked out OK til he showed us how to do it with the bandsaw and bench belt sander.

[BMorv]

I've tried Madake.  I do find it's tougher like Roy mentions.  Seems that it is harder and the nodes are spaced farther apart than moso. 
The only problem I've seen with it is the diameter.  If you don't build bows above 1 3/8" wide it shouldn't be a problem, but you'll have trouble getting 1.5" or wider.
 
I never knew HD had bamboo slats until now. I'll just mention that the 2" wide planks are better for bow making.  Not that you normally need wider than 1.75", the 2" ones are flatter and give you more room to layout your profile and follow the crown of the boo. 
I've used the 1.75" and they work fine for the most part; I'm just to the point where I want the best I can get and just one failure isn't worth saving a $1 or $2 per backing. 

If you only plan to build a couple bows a year, you are better off getting them from Echo.  You are getting hand picked slats suitable for bow making.  If you order 20 slats, you'll more than likely have 5 of them not suitable for backings.  So $5/backing is more like $7/backing.
 

[Flem]

We need to get Elison J. G. Lusvardi, to send us some. Seen that stuff he uses in his videos?

[Fishinglink]

Thanks everyone looks like I’ll be using echo. Will probably be a couple weeks before I order but I’ll update this with pictures and a review.


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