Bamboo Flipped

[8Charles]

I am trying my first BBI.  Took a propane torch to the node side of the bamboo to give it some color.  The bamboo is not glued to the Ipe yet, just a backing strip.  I did not char the bamboo just gave it some color.  The bamboo has flipped.  The node side is now flat and the glue side is convex.  Any thoughts or suggestions?

Emmett

[Pat B]

Have you cut it to shape and thinned it to 1/8" at the crown? If not, that may be all it takes.

[8Charles]

It was already ground to flat when I got it, with the node side having the natural crown. Thought I would leave it sit for a day and see if it returns.

[Pat B]

As it rehydrates it may flatten back out. I don't build many boo backed bows so what I say I get from others that do build them.

[Art B]

It's been my experience to first heat treat (I personally wouldn't heat a boo backing strip) and then thin down to proper dimension. Don't know if you have enough thickness to re-flatten but that's probably your best bet. Or get another piece..........Art

[No-sage]

It was wet.

[D]

Art, so your saying to heat treat it first before you plane it down flat??

[PEARL DRUMS]

I have read several times over not to heat bamboo because it is already 10x stronger than any core wood, heat will only make it higher in tensile strength and crush your core under compression. I dont have proof because I dont heat it up. If the boo is wet Dean Torges puts his in a make shift one bulb hot box to dry it out.

[Art B]

I've only heat treated the belly slat (for double bamboo bow) to build up it's compression properties. I personally wouldn't heat treat a boo backing.

D, you can plane your boo close but leave the glue side crowned. Then heat treat your boo and finish surfacing after that. Thats worked for me.......Art