Tapering Bamboo for BBO

[Gunney]

Hey All,

Been thinning some bamboo slats for BBOs. I been preparing it about an 1/8 inch to trace my pattern on to.

I'm having a little trouble with tapering. I understand that the limbs should taper from the middle of the handle down to the tips to about 1/16th before glue up.

I am very meticulus (maybe that is my problem) and I really want to get a uniform taper. How do you guys get that on an 1/8 piece of Bamboo or any other backing for that matter? That is not much room.

I have a small jointer and I could do it like Dean does it in the video, but I understoon that to be with osage slats.

I guess what I'm asking is how do you all measure it or mark it?

There are alot of good build alongs, but none really get into tapering that bamboo.

BTW, my VCR ate my copy of Deans video today. I guess I have to breakdown and buy the DVD.

[Bowchef]

I taper bamboo backings on my Performax drum sander.  I use 2 .002 tapers butted together and taped to the bottom of a strip of 3/4" foam board-thin ends together in the middle.  Place the bamboo plank on the foam strip and commence to sanding.  This produces great results for me.

[D. Johnston]

After you cut out the boo to your outline just sand or plane it off till you have an even edge profile. Because of the crown in the boo it will have the taper you need. Just make sure you have a nice even edge thickness and the taper takes care of itself, no measuring involved.