bamboo backing etc

[dave_t_aber]

Hello,
Ive got a bamboo backed hickory flatbow stave glued up, ready to be worked down, I know bamboo is good in the tension department, but how is it as a belly material? I was thinking about using bamboo on the front and back of a flatbow, with a maple belly, I have the things ready to go, but im unsure if it will be a waste of time, as im unsure if it can handle the compression that the belly takes?

also, has anyone had any luck reflexing bamboo? with steam or heat, as im tempted to try it out.

cheers
dave

[steve58]

FWIW I have never heard of bamboo being used as a belly material. Good vibes about it as a very fast backing for ELB though. Totally ready to be shot down in flames here, especially as I think traditional Japanese bows were effectively self bamboo? So the material must be able to handle both tension and compression?

[dave_t_aber]

cheers steve,
ive only heard one mention of it as a belly material, someone mentioned on here that they had shot a sweet shooting bow with a bamboo back and belly once, i forget where i saw it though, but i definately read it, will have to search it.

Just tried recurving a slat of bamboo, and it seems to work fine, i let it dry for abit on the radiator (not something i would usually do!) and tried it, it sprung back to shape fine, even after a fair bend. I have a fair stack of bamboo around the house now, so i will soon try a bamboo only bow, stick two slats back to back, and tiller it on the sides only. experimentation is half the fun.

cheers
dave

[dave_t_aber]

I made the hickory flatbow with bamboo backing, it shoots ok, about 120 yards, which is fine as its only a childs bow, BUT its taken a massive set. I know why, I made the bamboo backing too thick, subsequently the bamboo was working as tension for the back, the neutral area in the middle, and part of it was also under compression in the belly. It would be a good bow, if the bamboo was thinner, im pretty sure of that. Bamboo cant stand compression either, well, no better than most pines, or other soft woods. I did a test, glued two slats of bamboo together, only thin strips, about 4mm each, and when dried, I put them under pressure, normal bow type pressure, typical of that in a limb, and they showed a big set almost instantly. Im making one more bamboo backed bow with some maple and black locust laminates, then i will leave it alone. Im going to try other woods.

Ive got some lovely ash staves seasoned up now, they are the next project.

[Bald Eagle]

75% of the longbow archers in our club shoot Alan Fleming Bamboo long bows. Pure bamboo, belly and back. After 4 years of shooting 1000's of arrows they are still flat with the string off and remain the same poundage! The secret is in the layering of the belly, (end on in strips) and the back is a flat piece of bamboo stuck to the belly. Unfortunately Alan has stopped making these bows now but a guy called John Chappell has taken over using all Alan's methods and supplier of bamboo. They are functional works of art.

[steve58]

Originally Posted by Bald Eagle

75% of the longbow archers in our club shoot Alan Fleming Bamboo long bows. Pure bamboo, belly and back. After 4 years of shooting 1000's of arrows they are still flat with the string off and remain the same poundage! The secret is in the layering of the belly, (end on in strips) and the back is a flat piece of bamboo stuck to the belly. Unfortunately Alan has stopped making these bows now but a guy called John Chappell has taken over using all Alan's methods and supplier of bamboo. They are functional works of art.

Are they GNAS legal? Sounds a realy interesting design, any chance of a photo?

[Huffy]

I agree with Steve that the all bamboo bows sound interesting. I have read about bows being made from strips of bamboo ( action boo) which sounds like bamboo floor boards on both Aussie and American trad bow forums but have not seen anything in the UK.

Best wishes, Mark

[Bald Eagle]

I'll try and get a pic for you and post it. There's a guy up north making bamboo bows using bamboo laminate flooring!! I can't tell you what they're like as I have not seen one. Self bamboo bows are GNAS legal as far as I know as it was classed as a wood a few years back from being a grass!

[Kae]

I have shot bamboo faced & backed bows, they are fantastic.

Works really well, and they hold their shape and poundage better for longer.

Kae.