First Bamboo backed Ipe

[TwangThwack]

Hey all, Going to slowly post my attempt at a bbi long bow.  Right now the bow has the profile roughed out with draw knife and rasp, didn't take any pictures prior to that.  So I have a 64" overall, 3 inch elevated tips at glue up, 1 1/8 center, taper starts 8 inches out and goes to 3/8ths at tips. I have a knot that I will have to work with on one limb. Shooting for a no bs simple sleek bow that is in the 50lb range. right now it is stiff as all get out and I am going to get the back shaped and start thinning the sides to see just how narrow I can go. So far I am amazed at the qualities of Ipe/Boo, coming from home depot red oak it is a real eye opener, it cuts and tools so easy. Added bonus, no allergies! This will be a slow post and success is not even close to guaranteed... fun time either way.
 

Edit....photobucket appears to lag after resize, will get pictures of knot up once it updates.

[D]

I build one as an experiment one time that was about 7/8 of an inch wide at the widest point on the limbs.  It still came out at 61 or 62#@28.  My bbi blanks start out around 1 1/2 inches wide and usually end up around 1 1/4 wide.  Good luck with your build, I'm sure it will turn out great.

[Loren Holland]

I love BBI. Just a word about IPE. My first couple came out very light, even though IPE is so much more capable. At first it won't show/feel like you have taken some off. You have to exercise it, and be patient. I wasn't. I didn't exercise it enough and just kept taking it off.

You are fortunate to not have the allergies that others have. I am sure you are wearing the proper PPE, etc, but just a friendly reminder. I don't really have a wood shop (just a garage) with ventilation, etc. But wear a mask and long sleeves, then vacuum up at minimum. you can develop the reaction the more you work with it, not just ipe, any of several woods. I am just saying this, so you won't make the same mistake i did.  i went from red oak to ipe, just like you, and got fine powdered reddish ipe all over the place. now i itch from it, even though i didn't at first.

[psychmonky]

LOL Cuts and tools EASY?!?!?!?! I've worked it with a rasp and a surform and "easy" isnt what I would call it!

[Jeff Smith]

I actually agree on the tools. I'm working on one now and its easy with a sure form to hog off wood and the cabinet scraper glides right along with nice long curls. I have made more than a few backed and unbacked ipe bow. I like you can make a shorter skinny bow with it. Get more bows out of one board. Cheaper and better than Red Oak.
Good luck on yours.
Jeff