bamboo?

[Crittergetter]

need advice on a bamboo lam limb build. I accidentally posted as a poll instead of a new topic. don't know that makes any difference or not. anyway, want to do 1 taper and 3 parallel. should I use action boo for the 2 inner lams and cane for 2 outer lams. It will be under clear glass. open for all suggestions and advice! I would like to end up around 50# at 26". Also what are your thoughts on tonkin boo. I've heard great things but can't seem to find it!

[bornofmud]

If it's a glass bow, it doesn't really matter what kind of bamboo you use.  Do you know why you want 1 taper and 3 parallel?  You can use natural bamboo for the outside veneers if you like the look of it better.  I think binghams sells tonkin, but I may be mistaken.  No one will be able to give you any real advice until you show/tell us the design you are hoping to build.  Riser length, bow length, limb width, and the shape of the limb will help people give you more advice.  Even then, it takes building one to have a decent idea of how much stack thickness you need to get a target poundage.

Unless you're making a really short bow, you'll almost certainly want more taper in the limbs at your rather short pull of 26", though again, it takes actually building one and testing the design to have a good idea of what you need to do to maximize the energy stored in the limb for a given draw length.  Hope that makes sense.

[Sam Harper]

It doesn't matter, but I would use bamboo flooring for the inner lams and raw bamboo for the outter lams, reasoning being that the raw bamboo is prettier and bamboo flooring is easier to work with.

[LittleBen]

Supertiller .... good for determine optimal taper.

[Crittergetter]

Thx guys! I really dont have a game plan together yet. I read something the other day on a basic biw build design saying that the 1 taper and 3 parallels would give me the desired draw weight. but I think that was for a 28 inch draw. Anyways, the only experience I have with bow making is a few self bows and a few with backing. wanting to move into the lam  bows because I think they're beautiful works of art! I may be getting in over my head but I've always been the type to dive in head first without checking the water! if anyone can steer me in the right direction it would be greatly appreciated! Oh by the way, I am an average sized guy with a short draw! Lol.

[bornofmud]

Taper has less to do with draw weight and more to do with where in the limb the energy is stored.  Draw weight will be determined by the stack thickness, the length of the bow, the length of the riser, and the shape of your limb. If there is not enough taper, the bow will bend too much at the fades, if there's too much taper, it will bend too much at the tips.

I recommend either starting with a bingham or kenny m design for your first as they have charts that will help you get a target draw weight for their design.  The other option is to find a build a long that is very similar to what you want and try to copy it.  The last option is to throw the idea of a target weight away, do your best to guess at the stack thickness, and experiment by making several bows of that design ($$$) until you can get it the way you want.

[Crittergetter]

thanks again for the help! I did look at the Bingham kits, I will definitely check out the Kenny m. everything I've done so far has been by trial and error. but I really hate to go down that road again! I am working on a self bow for a Christmas present as we speak, but as soon as this is done its time to build a bow for me!! Thx again!

[critman]

You can NEVER go wrong dealing with kenny. Best business man I have dealt with in a long time.  Just my two cents worth....

[bornofmud]

Yes, I deal with Kenny almost exclusively, he's an awesome guy and makes a great product.  Very highly recommended.

[Roy from Pa]

Tell Kenny you know me and ya might get a discount.. Well maybe ya better not tell him ya know me:)

[Crittergetter]

Ill definitely give him a call and see what we can come up with. Checked out his Web site and he seems to be down to earth and has it all together! Probably gonna wait till after the holidays. Momma gets upset when I spend money on projects right before Christmas! Haha