This stuff seems hard to find but i found some on the bamboo habitat web-site for those who are interested. I haven't ordered any yet but if someone else have please let me know what the quality was like. Link below.
http://www.bamboohabitat.com/Pages/bamboo1.html
scroll to bottom of page.
Stuffs pretty cheap. Would a red oak board bow handle a boo backing WRT compresion?
Bamboo works best with osage, hickory, ipe etc. I haven't ever used any on oak for the reason you mentioned. I have seen a few that was done on the primitive archer web-site but i don't know how they have held up over time.
Cool. Thanks for the info Ken. I am getting my hands on an elm stave. That might look nice witha boo backing. Thanks for the website.
Just to update i e-mailed them about if they could hand select pieces especially for bows and here is the reply.
Hi Ken.
The nodes are between 9 and 12 inches apart. We do hand select the 2" wide x 6' for bows. Price would be $10.00 ea.
Please let me know if you have any other questions
Thank you for your inquiry,
I will be ordering some soon so i will give a update.
What species is it?
I just know it's Taiwan species which is suppose to be better then moso etc. I believe it is the same as sold at bamboo and rattan works that is highly recommended which i think is sold out of it right now.
Maybe Tonkin?
If you want some good Boo (tonkin) give Mike at Dryad Bows a call. I have used it on numerous bows with excellent results. Also, he is a sponsor here at Tradgang.
I didn't think tonkin grew big enough to make bows out of. If it is indeed tonkin i would be interested in some.
Tonkin boo and Tonkin cane are two different products.
The (flat) stuff listed above from BRW is not Tonkin, but is the Taiwan bamboo. Still good stuff, but seems to be a high demand item. They only import so much per "season", so it helps to let them know you need some in advance. Give Mike a jingle at Dryad Bows. Maybe you can sweet talk him into selling you some. ;) After Dean put out his Hunting The Bamboo Backed Bow video, suppliers have been selling lots of flat boo.
Hey Tom,
yep, dean mentioned taiwan bamboo a few years back and list his source as bamboo and rattan works. I believe they are out of it for awhile. I have been searching for another supplier for a long time now because alot of people has been asking for it and the site i mentioned above has it. I never thought to ask how much supply they had on hand.
I didn't even know there was a tonkin boo. I wonder how it compares to the taiwan boo?
I just went to mikes Dryad site and he has the tonkin boo listed on his site for sell. I hope he still has some.
It's good stuff if he's got some left!
Last I was told, Dryad was not selling it any longer.
Up for Roy
So, is there a problem with Moso Bamboo?
Not that I know. I have used the stuff from banboo and rattan works, not sure what kind it is.
Rattan sells Maso, not Moso.
"Tonkin boo and Tonkin cane are two different products."
Tom,
Never heard that before. Care to explain?
Tonkin cane, the real stuff, is available from many suppliers, its not rare nor expensive, nor in short supply. Its applications for bowmaking are limited by its diameter. There is some good info on tonkin cane here:
http://www.bambooandfence.com/AboutBamboo.htm