Black bamboo.....

[cmh]

Phyllostachys nigra
Common name: "Black Bamboo"
............

Has anyone ever worked with this type of bamboo? I read it grows on Oregon and Washington. Would it be suitable to use for a Hill style bow? I really like the combination of colors and it's appearance. Thanks and God Bless, Craig

[horseapple]

I googled it and some of the pic's show it to be big enough for what you're wanting, I bought some black bamboo from an archery company in the late 90's it was very thin walled and made excellent osage backed bows.

jd

[cmh]

Thanks JD    did it keep it's black  and green mottled appearance? Thanks again

[horseapple]

The boo that I had did, I just acetoned the back and sprayed with fullerplast.

jd

[horseapple]

BTW, I havent scraped or sanded the back of my bamboo in years.

jd

[cmh]

[KenH]

Phyllostachys nigra is not very large diameter bamboo -- sub 1" usually.  There are a couple of other black colored bamboos that get to be larger in diameter.

[Bob at Work]

Franks has it up to 2 1/2"...

[Pat B]

2 1/2" black bamboo backing strips or 2 1/2" black bamboo culms(canes)? The latter would be just big enough to get a narrow backing strip from.

[KenH]

P. nigra only grows to 2.5" diameter culms

[cmh]

So it is or isn't possible to use black bamboo for a lamination in a Hill style bow?

[Pat B]

Sure, it's possible.