First BBI, need some help please

[Sam Harper]

You can fix that by making the string grooves deeper on the left side, and grinding some wood of the right edge of the limbs.  

[img=http://poorfolkbows.com/images/aelb00.JPG]

[Sam Harper]

Lemme try that again.

 

[Sam Harper]

D'oh!  Roy beat me to it.

[J.F. Miller]

thanks, Jeff. good to know.

[mccarlson]

Another update.  I was able to fix the string alignment by a combination of deepening the knocks and removing wood on the side that was bowed out.  I also removed wood from the bowed side of the belly so I didn't have to weaken the limb so much.

Tillering was going great until my bamboo(too thick probably) splintered up.  I added the pics below.  I used super glue to try and fix it.  Will try to continue tillering today.  I've got it pulling pretty even with a 5 1/2" brace to 18".

By the way, thanks everyone for the help on this one.  I've learned a ton.

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[macbow]

Yes the bamboo looks pretty thick.
If you can keep it together through tillering then some sinew or string wrapped around the beginning could save it.
I'd also add,some on,the opposit limb to even out the look.

[Zradix]

is all the "white wood" bamboo?
Or is this a tri lam?

[mccarlson]

Yes.  All the white is bamboo.  It's way too thick but the super glue seems to be holding for now.  I've got it tillered to 21"

[macbow]

No matter how thick the bamboo I always round off all corners including the bamboo before and during,tillering.

In this case there might have been a nick or something.

[mccarlson]

I didn't do that.  That is good to know.  I'll do that for the rest of the tillering.

Thanks

[mccarlson]

Another update.  I've got the bow tillered to 24" but have new bamboo splinters although they've all been very thin.  I rounded the bamboo on the edges with sand paper, then applied superglue to all the edges and repaired the second splinter.  I'm hoping to tiller it to 26" and get the weight down to around 45# at 26". If it lives, I will final sanding and apply super glue to the entire backing after removing the rind.

The good news is I've got more bamboo cut and ready to taper(this time I'm tapering it much thinner.

[macbow]

The key on the bamboo tapering is to thin  and flatten the back till the edges are thin. Less than 1/8 maybe 1/32.

Then trace out the pattern and cut it out. Now thin and taper,as,need to,get even thickness on edges.

[bowhntineverythingnh03743]

If your careful you can easily sand off the bamboo with a sander and then when you get close use a toothing plane. Then re glue a new piece of bamboo on and place it back onto your form. I was able to do it with this BBO bow I got a bunch of cracks in over the winter. Still came out with a hunting bow and shot my first longbeard this spring with it. When I placed it in the corner of the garage it was way under weight, like 35#, adding the bamboo and another thin lam of osage brought the weight right back up to my desired 45# when all said and done with tillering... Anyways just a thought!

Picture of my harvest with "Second Chance"

 

[mccarlson]

Is it possible to grind the bamboo down enough to put linen over it?

Would linen or can is hold?

[mccarlson]

Quick Update:  I continue to have problems with my overly thick bamboo so I cut backing from tent material and am attempting to back the bamboo with synthetic fabric.  I'm hoping it will keep the bamboo from getting worse and allow me to tiller this bow.  

Good news is that I've learned a ton on this bow and my next BBI should be much better.  

I'm also working on a board bow so I increase my chances for success.

[mccarlson]

This bow is officially dead.  I plan to cut off the handle and make a takedown with it.  Starting my next one tomorrow.