bamboo

[djthompson]

Well, my ELB still shooting fine; but it's only about 35-38lb and a bit too wimpy for me.

I'm keen to make my next bow circa 60lb. (I've tried a clubmember's 65'lb and it's a serious pull; but do-able).

I think i'll have a go making 2 bows at the same time; a bit of a batch production. one as another self bow, the other with a bamboo back. But I can't seem to find a decent source of bamboo.

Any suggestions (preferably in the South West) for a source of bow grade bamboo?

Cheers, Dave

Ps this is a fab guide to bamboo backing:

Bamboo backings: all ins and outs Build A bow Public Message Board

[wingate_52]

B&Q garden section. buy a large diameter length of bamboo and get cutting and planing.

[djthompson]

really! didn't think you could get more than a stick at B&Q.

Righty, I shall have to have a look!

Cheers, Dave

[NeilM]

Look for a company called Gardman. I have bought some long lengths of large diameter bamboo from a local garden centre, and this is the name of the supplier.

[ThePinkOne]

All bamboo is not equal. Saying "bamboo" is a bit like saying "tree": even when they come big enough the wood is not the same from one tree species to the next.

Within bamboos, there are some species of "timber bamboos" ie those regarded as having culm wood suitable in size and strength for use. As we do in the West with different tree woods, in the East different timber bamboos will be used for different purposes as the properties of the culm wood varies quite a bit.

Major timber bamboo species that have culm wood worth using are:

Moso (Phyllostachys edulis also known as P. heterocycla f pubescens))
Madake (Phyllostachys bambusoides)
Hachiku (Phyllostachys nigra var henonis)
Makinoi (Phyllostachys makinoi)

The first one grows widely in China also in Japan, and is the most likely one you will get form the garden centre. The second two are Common in Japan (although also exist in China)- the Madake grows on lower slopes whilst the Hachiku is more in mountains. The Makinoi bamboo also produces fair sized culms- it is significant in Taiwan, needs more warm than the others.

For best "wood" (ie culm) quality for a bow, the species of bamboo, age of the grove (ie culm size) and time of year and age of culm are all important (a culm emerges from the ground at its final diameter it does not thicken year upon year but it dos increase in strength and resilience for a few years). Japanese yumi bows are make from Madake laminations. The Madake bamboo is also used for producing high-quality shinais (the bamboo swords used in kendo). Point being that both a good shinai and a bow need flexibility and madake is (according to the Japanese who have few more years experience than us in bamboo) the best for that. Makinoi bamboo will make an OK shinai but more brittle than Madake.

Shinais are never made from Moso- deemed far too brittle. Whereas Hachiku is used similarly to Madake and is regarded as superior in some uses.

As I say, most poles in garden centres likely to be moso; I have not yet sen confirmed sources of Madake poles. In US it is prob different as madake bamboo does grow well in US and there are established groves producing quite big poles. Although madake does grow in UK it is rare (I have a young plant of it as I grow timber bamboos so I know how difficult the species- as opposed to decorative cultivars- of P. bambusoides is to get in UK, my plant came from a parent plant in Cornwall actually) and unlikely to find big enough culms even f you do find agrove you can harvest.

The only confirmed madake source I found is to buy slats for a madake shinai from a supplier of kendo stuff- e-bogu.com does some decent madake shinais. But than you have to splice 2 slats in handle of bow to get the length- although on the positive side they are matched, pre-selected pieces which will not have spilts in (any sign of split or splinter and you bin the shinai). You can also get the smoke/heat treated shinais- similar process to treating belly bamboo for a bow perhaps?

OK I suppose any big bamboo works OK- but then again several woods work OK for bow backing however one of the best is regarded as hickory so that wood is chosen where poss.

Maybe I'm being an anorak, but bamboos is one of my big interests aside from archery (I grow around a dozen different bamboos at the moment including 7 different Phyllostachys ie "timber bamboos," plus the "arrow bamboo" with plans for more to come) and I get rather frustrated at this idea that "bamboo" is a single entity, (especially when neighbours assume that big thing in the corner will spread like wildfire- it won't it's a clumper). It isn't and like with wood there are different types of bamboo for different things...

JMO though!

P.

[Bald Eagle]

There's a guy in NCAS area making bamboo longbows, with some success, out of bamboo laminate flooring!! It's already flattened and stuck into a plank, so he sticks planks together and then cuts them into bow staves and finishes them!! Why didn't I think of that?? Insread I've just bought 2 Alan Fleming bamboo longbows, second hand as he no longer makes them, for a good price!!

[djthompson]

The Pink One;

Thanks for all that interesting info on Bamboo; didn't realise there was so much variation to it.

Cheers, D

[ThePinkOne]

Originally Posted by djthompson

The Pink One;

Thanks for all that interesting info on Bamboo; didn't realise there was so much variation to it.

Cheers, D

Most people don't... I only found out when I was doing kendo and one of the kendo books (by a Japanese author) talked about different types of bamboo and suitability for shinais- and also about issues such as culm age and best time of year to cut and how to season so splits don't develop. This piqued my curiosity and I started to find out more- and ended up with a garden-full... (I was just starting to renovate my gardens so the timing was spot on!).

Bamboo is quite amazing actually- and its place in eastern culture is far more significant than I think most westerners realise. Although I can see why- you know, when you knock the snow off the plant and it springs up still fully green and fresh.... the bright green in the winter... (many bamboos including P. bambusoides are totally hardy and will go down to a steady -16 C or even lower without any ill-effect).

I think this all makes me what is known as a "boo-nut" I guess I earned that title when I drove from S Wales to Norfolk and back in one day to pick up 3 bamboos from a specialist nursery...!

P.