HH bug got me ... Part One!

[Joe Subler]

The pic doesn't do justice to the bamboo limbs Rob-beautiful to look at in person!!

Joe      

[Rob DiStefano]

caramelized boo, string follow, paduak riser!

come home little sheba!    

[Ben Maher]

Rob...
Mate ... a regretful sale mayhaps ?

[bryan r]

Gee Rob, if you missed her that much, you should have told me.  

She'll be back in your hands by the weekend.

[MT Longbow]

Guys is a dual shelf HH cut less to center?

[MT Longbow]

RDS, does the "carmelizing" have any effect on the performance or feel in the draw cycle of the Bows?...you said it makes it act stiffer?  also does anyone know what the name is or any clue as to the "special imported Howard Hill only bamboo", and really is the carmelizing done at the shop or is it a different boo used out of country for this.


Thanks

Patrick

[Rob DiStefano]

Originally posted by MT Longbow:
RDS, does the "carmelizing" have any effect on the performance or feel in the draw cycle of the Bows?...you said it makes it act stiffer?  

a very good question.  'caramelizing' is heat tempering, where the boo is either cooked (baked or roasted) or flamed (yup, hit with a direct torch flame).  the natural grass resins (yes, bamboo is a grass) liquefy and act sorta like a glue.  much of the inherent water dissipates as steam.  i've done this to quite a bit of natural bamboo, flamed it with a torch.  this changes the boo's molecular structure and makes it much stronger and stiffer, and probably more durable.

as to what all this means to a longbow i'm not totally sure at all.  i do know that tempered boo just looks nicer.    

also does anyone know what the name is or any clue as to the "special imported Howard Hill only bamboo", and really is the carmelizing done at the shop or is it a different boo used out of country for this.

dunno, worth a call to craig or jason if it matters.


Thanks

Patrick

[Rik]

I loaded up the tent and headed out Friday afternoon for a weekend of camping and shooting in Idaho's high desert wild horse Indian country.

It rained and hailed and snowed and thundered and the lightning flew, but I had a blast, and even managed to take a nice close-up photo of one of the local critters. I realize there is not a Hill bow in this photo, but I thought it might get a bit dicey if I tried to lay my bow down next to this guy. He wasn't real happy with me.

 

[Rob DiStefano]

Originally posted by Rik:
I loaded up the tent and headed out Friday afternoon for a weekend of camping and shooting in Idaho's high desert wild horse Indian country.

It rained and hailed and snowed and thundered and the lightning flew, but I had a blast, and even managed to take a nice close-up photo of one of the local critters. I realize there is not a Hill bow in this photo, but I thought it might get a bit dicey if I tried to lay my bow down next to this guy. He wasn't real happy with me.

 

ooooo, dat would look nice on my tembo!  :D

[Montauks]

MT, It's been awhile since I read "Hunting the Hard Way" but I think after much trial and error Howard determined Tonkin Cane bamboo was best for his bows and I believe
Craig still uses it

[tradlongbow]

Patrick-

When I bought my Hill back in December, Jason told me that the bamboo was carmelized at the factory.

Darren

 

[Benny Nganabbarru]

G'day Rik and other Americans: I hope you don't mind me asking this question here, but seeing that snake reminded me. I'm nearly halfway through a cool film called "Lonesome Dove", and a fellow got attacked by a mob of water moccasin snakes. Is this for real, or is Hollywood just having a lend of me? I reckon your snakes are more scary than ours, by the way. They have bigger mouths, and seem crankier. Cheers, Ben

[2treks]

HollyWood! But they can be nasty.
You got the deadliest snakes in the world Ben.
Lonsome Dove is a classic,Love that show.
Chuck

[MT Longbow]

In the book that came with my Robin Hood its stated that only Howard Hill had the rights to import this special bamboo that he found to be the best for bows from Japan....

I did ask Craig about the Bamboo "carmelizing" and he just said there was NO negative effects on the bamboo when its done  as far as shootability or performance, or longevity.  He didnt mention any different type of Bamboo or where its done....

[Rik]

Ben, I remember when Bill Baker and Brad Kane came over from Australia to hunt elk with Doug Chase and I. They were concerned about rattle snakes, and I could tell they had more fear of them than their local snakes, many of which are the deadliest on earth. The thing about our snakes over here is, even though they have long, wicked fangs, if they bite you, you will more than likely recover.

If a brown snake or Taipan bites you, I think you are in dire danger of tipping over for good. (Ben, if you are a day or so from the nearest hospital in the Outback and get tagged by a Taipan, what kind of odds does a guy have would you guess? Not that I want to give it a try, I am just curious.)

The best thing about rattle snakes is that they warn you before they strike (unless you step on them). Your Aussie snakes don't give you any warning before they strike. That's just plain unfair.

[Rob DiStefano]

Originally posted by MT Longbow:
...I did ask Craig about the Bamboo "carmelizing" and he just said there was NO negative effects on the bamboo when its done  as far as shootability or performance, or longevity.  ....

i dunno what craig/howard mean by 'tempering' the bamboo.  

i've heated bamboo in an oven to dry it out and this stiffens it up considerably but there is little to no change to the color of the outer layer.  the whole idea of this is drop the moisture content which greatly decreases the flex and increases the stiffness and durability.

i've *flamed* bamboo with a propane torch and that *drastically* changes the outer color to anything from a light tan to dark amber (caramel) to nearly black.  this REALLY stiffens up the bamboo and makes it much more durable.  there's almost a plastic-like quality to the outer skin as the melted resins cool down.  you can see the inner pith changes to a harder and more crystalized form.

[swampthing]

They don't call'em the "Fierce Snake" for nothing, may be "timid" compared to a King Cobra, but I can think of a least 30 better ways to die than at the end of his bite. Not to mention the Brown snake. I'll take my chances with our Coral Snake anyday over those slugs.

[Ben Maher]

I am laughing at my good Northen mate's concern . He lives in close proximity to
A. water Buffalo
B. crocodiles
C. some of the deadliest snakes known to man
D. Mosquitoes that are so big the locals use deceased mosquito wings as sunshades at local football matches

And across this continent we have
1. Blue ringed Octopus
2. Irukandji
3. Funnel Web Spider
4. King Brown snakes
5. Taipan's
6. Drop Bears
7. Tiger Snake
8. Box Jellyfish

Ben , when eventually You and I go over to the USA hunting elk with Rik [ Yep, I just invited us !!!    ] we can regale the locals tales of what "real" dangerous snakes are ... not those sissy thing that shake small tambourines before attacking ...
Then we'll go down and play "Watch the 175gn Hex head fly" as the water moccasins attack en masse ...
Even their Grizzly's are kinda cuddly ... not like our ferocious Koala's .....  

[Ray_G]

Northern Ben and Southern Ben,

If you two make it to Idaho, I will invite myself into Rik's camp -  he won't mind.  He is a good natured feller!  Me and Nate can car pool. Bending D bows in the mountains - sweeeet!

[MT Longbow]

Man I love this thread!!!! 2hours 45 minutes.....still not close to reading it all!!!