Bamboo Jatoba longbow build along

Many Arrows Lost · November 03, 2004, 01:56:00 AM

Well here goes nothin'. This is a big step for me, normally I do my own thing...quietly. But for some reason I thought I'd do my first bamboo backed bow for all to see. It's kind of like running around the yard in your socks, only worse 'cause the only thing around here are mosquitoes and nobody has to die laughing. :D

Got the bamboo off an internet site(raised my eyebrows per strip) and the Jatoba locally(took my left hind leg per 1X4X8.)

KT

olFatGuy KenWood · November 03, 2004, 09:04:00 AM

How thick is your BOO? It looks pretty thick at the end. I like the colors of that. GOOD LUCK.
Post some more.

KenWood

mich-mtnman · November 03, 2004, 09:40:00 AM

great pics!what style of bow do you have in mind? just a 'd'd style longbow? exactly how thick was the boo/wood?

Many Arrows Lost · November 04, 2004, 12:30:00 AM

Well not a lot to add today. Just made a handle and glued it on as the pics below will show. Got it cut to 69.5" and am planing 68" NTN.

That's how I left it tonight. I sure hope that intertube idea works. I'm out on a limb here.(Someone make an out-on-the-limb Graemlin.)

The boo is about 3/32 thick and the board is about 7/8 thick.

KT

Bpaul · November 04, 2004, 01:16:00 AM

I see that Sage flyrod case back there, you are a flyfisherman, you can't hide I seee you.

LOL

BTW, thanks for doing a buildalong, looking forward to the rest.

B

Madpigslayer · November 04, 2004, 01:20:00 AM

good luck!

Tom Leemans · November 04, 2004, 06:41:00 AM

Those limbs are gonna be stiff, I'll bet. Put a lot of trap in them. Your boo is a bit thick but it looks like nice clean stuff. Should be interesting.

wingnut · November 04, 2004, 07:18:00 AM

For future reference, There are a couple of things that will make the bow easier to make. First cut the bamboo to the bow profile (outline) and thin it before the glue up. Second taper your board with a 3/16" taper before.

This will get you a bow with consistant boo thickness and put you closer to floor tiller when you take it off of the jig.

Dean's video explains and show these steps much better then I can.
Mike

Eric Krewson · November 04, 2004, 08:49:00 AM

With bamboo that thick you are going to have what I call a jatoba bellied bamboo bow, very little wood(possibly 1/4") will be left after the tillering process but plenty of bamboo. Had you cut you bow pattern on the bamboo first and tapered your bamboo from handle to tip you would end up with a bamboo backed jatoba bow.

Jimmy · November 04, 2004, 02:33:00 PM

I have to agree with Eric and Mike. What I think will happen is that your boo will crush the wood. What you may be able to do at this point is make a very thin bow. I am talking 1" wide at the fades at the most. Another thing to do would be to trap the boo severely. Anyone remember Rich Saffolds IPE bows? Pencil sticks is what comes to mind. That way you will have some thickness to your limbs, and hopefully the boo won't overpower your wood. I hope this helps :-)

Jim Nichols

Jimmy · November 04, 2004, 02:36:00 PM

I also would recomend a copy of Dean Torges's video "Hunting the Bamboo Backed Bow" available at his website. Will save you a lot of trouble in the end.

Jim Nichols

Many Arrows Lost · November 04, 2004, 08:45:00 PM

I will be unable to work on this project tonight. However, looking at the comments I have some challenging times ahead. Your comments have answered some of the questions that I had going into this.
In reality I was shooting for slim limbs anyway but not for the reasons above. The thickness of the bamboo was a guess on my part and I didn't consider over-powering the belly.
That stuff(Jatoba)is REALLY hard!
Later,
KT

PS When I'm not out shooting stumps, I usually have a flyrod in hand and am scouting Rainbow Trout.

Madpigslayer · November 05, 2004, 12:19:00 AM

more pics man, more pics! go big or go home. giverhell.

Jimmy · November 05, 2004, 10:06:00 AM

Don't get discouraged allready! Like I said you still have a shot at pulling this off. I just think you need to make it skinny allmost round limbs, if you follow me. I will try and take a picture of the bow that Rich gave me so you can get an idea.

Jim Nichols

Jimmy · November 05, 2004, 02:30:00 PM

Here's some pictures of Rich's Bow made from IPE

If you look close I used a Quarter for reference and the bow is 68" long and about 45lbs

Jim Nichols

Many Arrows Lost · November 06, 2004, 12:14:00 AM

Hey, cool pics Jimmy. I'm in trouble I noticed a little gap along the edge where boo meets Jatoba.

I held it up to the light and sure enough light comes through the bow. I must not have wrappped it tight enough or there was a knife mark I didn't catch or something. Looks like it is time to take it apart and start over.

wingnut · November 06, 2004, 08:05:00 AM

Dang if it goes all the way through I would bandsaw it off clean it up and do what's recommended above. Heck you get to make mistakes and fix em on the same bow. That's cool.

Mike

Eric Krewson · November 06, 2004, 09:00:00 AM

If the lines denote your handle area I would turn the bow on it's side, cover the gap on the lower side with tape and pour the opening full of glue until it won't hold any more. With urac mixed thin it will flow pretty well and fill a gap like this.

If the gap is outside the handle area it is time to cut the bamboo off, cut a bow pattern on it, taper it and glue it back on.

Many Arrows Lost · November 06, 2004, 02:26:00 PM

Alrighty then. Sorry that the void wasn't shown in context to the whole bow. The marks are about halfway up the upper limb so it's out to the bandsaw with it to be dismembered. I see this as a goood opportunity to make a better bow. Everythings else got cancelled today. I'll try to get the results posted this evening.

KT

Josh_IOWA · November 06, 2004, 07:19:00 PM

can't you just heat it up and the glue will get mushy? Or is that just too hot.