Bamboo Backed Bows by Hand

[Gunney]

All,

         I have really been getting the urge to build a BBO by hand with no power tools. Plus, with moving, many of my power tools have to go into storage for sometime. How many of you have done it and if you don't mind, explain a little how you do it.
Actually, I know that it will take a considerable amount of time, but I am looking forward to it.

[R.W.]

Gunney,

The rope wrap and wedge method used by Korean and Japanese bowyers should work for you.

Should be able to google that and find some sites to peruse.

[John Scifres]

It's fairly simple to plane your boo and the osage flat.  It's just more time consuming.  The basics stay the same.  You can also simply decrown and flatten an osage stave, flatten you boo and glue it up.

[Bjorn]

I would recommend starting with a Dryad glue up stave if you have not done one before. It is Bamboo and Osage and they send you a video to help you complete the project.

[Dave2old]

Nothing could be simpler, at least if you're building a straight longbow (requiring no bending form). I use 3/4" x 2"-wide osage boards with boo lam backing. Most boo loms come way too thick, and getting them thin and even is time-consuming but not rocket science. Use C-camps to glue backing to board, trace out your bow limb shape and start planing and rasping it down. Only problem I've found with boo backing is a tendency to string follow (as opposed to hickory backing), so best to shoot it a lot while tillering before getting down to final weight. Fun, easy, and makes slow but steady and reliable bows. I've done a couple dozen and am yet to have one break, while half my hick-backed bows eventually fail, so I have up on that. Have fun, dave

[Hawkeye]

Go get 'em, Billy!  I'm sure you can have a good experience with this, and learn a lot that might be "masked" by power tools.  I bet this will teach you some lessons that will help with how ever you build them in the future.

If need to borrow a heat box, I know where there is a really nice one...

I hope your bow building and your upcoming move go REALLY well!

Daryl

[wingnut]

Gunny,

It is easy but time consuming to build em by hand.  I did quite a few that way back a few years ago.  A block plane, toothing plane and a few other hand tools and your on your way.

You could come out here on the weekend and use our shop instead but it's up too you.

LOL

Mike

[laddy]

this is the second thread about bamboo backed bows recently, you guys hit a nerve and I just ordered one from Wingnut, Now I have to think of something nice to do for my wife, so I can live long enough to hunt with it this fall.  Any ideas?  I spose I could help paint the kitchen.

[R.W.]

Jeepers, Gunny,

Now there is a heck af an offer! Getting to use Wingnuts shop!

Not to mention be able to "pick his brain" about building bows!

What an offer! What a deal!

[Gunney]

Thanks Guys I really appreciate it.

Mike,

           You shouldn't have done that, I may be bending your ear beyond compare. Thanks so muc for the offer. I'll be getting ahold of you when we get in town.

[NorthShoreLB]

I did a bamboo backed Red Oak,

with a 4 in 1 rasp a Ferrier rasp and a scraper,

 used a 2X1 Red Oak slat, and some bamboo that came out of a construction site whole,
 took a while to flatten it, but it just ads to the sense of satisfaction,
I glued up using cable ties and driving little wood wedges where necessary for tighten them,
TB III was the glue, the bow did a lot of hunting and it's still going strong.

[NorthShoreLB]

 

 
 

[laddy]

Beautiful bow, interesting grain, how does it shoot.

[NorthShoreLB]

It shoots faster than a selfbow of the same weight.

It was glued strait, and took only 1 1/4" of set, this was a bow I made a long time ago, today I probably would tiller it  with a bit more bend in the mid to outher limbs