Safely thinning Bamboo?

[BAK]

So what do you consider the safest way to thin down bamboo for backing a bow?   

[Eric Krewson]

It depends on what tools you have in your stable, I started out with a sanding block with course sand paper on it, thinning a slat took me a few hours.

As I filled my shop with power tools I would cut as much off the belly of a slat with a band saw as I could, transfer to a jointer to really level the belly of the slat, cut out my bow profile from the slat then do the finish thinning on a 6X48 belt sander with a 36 grit belt. The whole process probably takes me 15 minutes now.

[BAK]

I thinned one yesterday, started with my joiner,  that got too scary as I know they eat fingers as fast as you feed them, so switched to a hand held power planer.  That did quite well, then switched to a course grit belt sander.  Finished it off with a toothing plane.   

[wood carver 2]

If you’re using a jointer for small stuff like bamboo, don’t feed by hand. Use a pair of push blocks. The ones I use have a rubber base. It’s still not ideal because bamboo is slippery, but I push where the nodes are for a better grip.
When it starts getting thin, move to a belt sander.
Dave.

[Roy from Pa]

I run the bamboo through my drum sander to get the belly side flat and draw my bow pattern on the flat side, cut out the pattern with the bandsaw then get to backing thickness with an edge sander and toothing plane.

[BAK]

I hear ya on the push blocks, the way I did it.

[smag]

Watched this fella, portagee in Hawaii do it on table saw and rip fence. Band saw, rip fence then i taper on 60” belt sander.
Drum sander is way to go. Lotsa ways to get er done.

HH~