Types of bamboo used in limbs

[el greco]

Last weekend I shot some carbon limbs with bamboo core and I was impressed. My question is are some types of bamboo superior than others? If someone wanted to go highly custom, is there a magical, mythical bamboo out there, perhaps in short supply that would be better than the one bowyers are using? Thank you.

[kat]

I can't tell you what is used with modern bows, but I have used vertical compressed bamboo made from flooring for my homemade tri-lam bows.

[nineworlds9]

The only type I have heard of that has any association with being  "special" or "magical" is Tonkin cane.  I think it was favored by Howard Hill?  Has been used by several of the top Hill style longbow bowyers I believe.

[bowfanatik]

It would bee interesting to know who uses Tonkin Cane for limbs .
Centaur , Slamer , Elkheart ?
   

[MnFn]

I have a pronghorn 3 piece longbow with Tonkin bamboo limbs.  If I get a chance I will take photo of it and post later.

[Java Man]

Amber flovored actionboo in Java Man bows.  Seems to work just fine.    

[nineworlds9]

Originally posted by Java Man:
Amber flovored actionboo in Java Man bows.  Seems to work just fine.      

YES it does!!!  

[Friend]

'Mohawk' bows of Tonkin cane are quite fine.

[glenbo]

My last build was my first using bamboo. I also used amber action boo and it shoots very nicely. This was my second lam bow so by no means am an expert. Nice deep color and very smooth draw.

[MnFn]

Here is my Pronghorn, with Tonkin bamboo limbs. It casts an arrow pretty well. Hits harder than any of my other bows, but I guess it should, it is at least 5 lbs heavier than any of them, except my Robertson. It is 60# at my draw length as measured on a scale.

After a lot of experimentation it ended up shooting FMJ 340's the best. I weighed them last night and they were all around 640 grains or so. FMJ 340 with 75 grain insert, 160 grain STOS and std adapter.

 

 

 

[M60gunner]

Tokin cane bamboo comes from the Tokin region of China not Japan. Hill preferred bamboo grow in Japan and even made a trip there to secure the supply.
Tonkin cane bamboo is used mainly for bamboo fly rods. It is shipped to 2 distributors here in US. It is no more than 2 3/4 in in diameter at the butt end. So I would assume the bow limbs sold as Tonkin cane are some how laminated.
Also have read Hill heat tempered his bamboo. Some present day bowyers say that is not necessary? I presume the glass makes the limbs come back because Tonkin cane not heat treated is like a wet noodle.
Flamed bamboo if done properly not only darkens it but will heat temper it as well..
Sorry about the long answer but  I hope this helps. I had to learn this stuff as a college class.

[KenH]

Tonkin, as in the Tonkin Gulf, is the region where the former North Viet Nam meets southeastern China along the ocean.

[Robertfishes]

Moso bamboo is used in a lot of bows.

[lbshooter]

As stated prviously Howard Hill claimed to have found the best of the more than 100 different species of bamboo that exist around the world and secured an exclusive supply agreement from the Japanese.  I'm not sure if this still exists today with HH Archery but as recent as of about 10 years ago HHA brochures claimed the use of this bamboo. My own impression over many years of shooting both all bamboo longbows and laminated, deep core bamboo longbows is that bows of seemingly  similar limb design display differnces in shooting performance that are likely due to the particular species of the bamboo.I also believe David Miller used a specific species in preference to other species of bamboo for his very fine shooting split bamboo longbows.