Well, these two bows were a bit of a learning experience. I decided to take a break from straight up board bows to try my hand at some bamboo backed bows. These are made from pre-tapered blanks and strips of bamboo that I purchased from David Knight. I decided to try pre-tapered blanks just so I could look them over and see how he gets them down to shape. I was thinking the same thing for the bamboo. Now that I've seen how it's done I'll get my hands on some raw ipe and raw bamboo which I'll then get all cut and planned down to size and start on some more of these. Both bows came in a little underweight, mainly because I had to refinish them no less than two times before I was able to apply an acceptable finish. The subsequent scraping and sanding I'm sure contributed to a loss of weight. That and the shooting in of both probably relaxed them a little bit as well. I tried finishing them first with spar urethane which wouldn't dry on the Ipe which wasn't sealed with anything. Next I tried lacquer using a sanding sealer and a brush on and then spray on lacquer. That yielded a terrible finish. Constant problems with either runs and drips or when using the spray, orange peel and sags. So, I finally stripped everything off, applied some no-wax shellac and then followed up with 5 coats of wiped on oil finish. The oil finish is an ultra-low VOC finish called Bioshield Hard Oil #9. This oil is composed of linseed oil, tung oil, and castor oil along with some other miscellaneous stuff. It has almost no odor and wipes on easily and yields a really nice gloss sheen. Once this has cured a few days I'll follow up with another Bioshield product which is a natural wax that can be buffed to a nice shine.
The first bow is my wife's new bow. It is 64" NTN, 25# at 26". Ipe core with bamboo backing and a hickory power lam. The handle is maple, wenge, and paduak with the same combo repeated on the tip overlays.
Unstrung profile
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v483/MCampbell/BBIbows001.jpg)
Handle
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v483/MCampbell/BBIbows009.jpg)
Tip overlay
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v483/MCampbell/BBIbows024.jpg)
Full draw
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v483/MCampbell/BBIKfulldraw.jpg)
The second bow is my bow. It is 64" NTN, 35# at 29" (I was hoping for 40#). Ipe core with bamboo backing. Handle is bloodwood, wenge, and cherry with the same combo repeated on the tip overlays.
Unstrung profile
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v483/MCampbell/BBIbows001.jpg)
Handle
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v483/MCampbell/BBIbows018.jpg)
Tip overlay
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v483/MCampbell/BBIbows020.jpg)
Full draw
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v483/MCampbell/BBIMfulldraw.jpg)
nice bows and nice kilt :)
thanks for posting !
Gorgeous bows, but the kilt has to go! :)
Fantastic job on your first 2 bows!
I say if you are man enough to wear the kilt - Good for you!
:^)
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Glenn
Hey Nick, thanks for the praise. I finally got around to posting some bows I've made. These are the two I mentioned in that reply to a post of yours over on PP early this week. I really like bamboo backing. I'm definitely going to work more with bamboo - maybe make a couple Hill style longbows like that one you posted on PP a while back. I have some more bamboo I'll be using on a Scythian recurve which will have boo back and belly with an elm core.
Nice job!!! I like your wood layup choices. :notworthy:
Hey Kilt, glad you did so!
bamboo is great stuff. Keep in mind that bbi's are stiffer than bbb's when you're making a recurve. First thing I did when I made my bbb was measuring the thickness of a comparable bow. Then I worked on my bamboo, kept it a glimp thicker and the bow ended up 40#. The sides of the bamboo slats were only like 1/8" thick each, but the max. thickness was like half an inch. You would be workin with really skinny bamboo if you want an elm core in your recurve.
It's very likely that the belly and back alone will make the thickness. Tiller both of your lams with the beltsander to keep the surface flat. Glue them up when they have the desired tiller and thickness, and see what happens. your first bbb won't probably end up at the weight you planned. Don't worry, just adjust some of the measurements and make a new one. these bbb's are pretty fast to make, and as soon as they come off the form you can string and shoot them.
Nick
Nick,
The next bows I'm making will actually have maple core laminates instead of elm as I mentioned earlier. I'm using pre-tapered lams like those you would use in a glass bow. There'll be two of these maple lams in the BBB Scythian and I believe they way I'm having them cut they'll make the actual core about 4-5mm thick and then the bamboo pieces I have are already tapered so they're about 3mm thick in the center tapering down to 1mm or so at the tips. I'm going to use the same thickness of lams in a couple glass versions off the same form. The glass bows will have different thickness of glass but will otherwise be the same. Of course I'll post them when they're complete as well.
They may have come under the wieght you wanted but they sure look great......I'm betting you will get better on the next ones you do. Nice job!
Dude, you're from Illinois? Why are you wearing a skirt? You'll get plenty of attention with the bows, they are really nice, but get rid of that skirt... lol
Scott, they call it a "kilt" because so many people got "kilt" for calling it a skirt ;)
Never knew that, thanks for the education! I was just teasing you anyhow...but I still wouldn't wear it ;)
SCA?
Kilt, if you have 2mm taper in each of your bamboo lams, and taper in both of your cores, I think you have way too much taper...
also, most glass-forms won't really work on bbb's because of the nodes. the nodes will get too much pressure, the internodes too little. unless you cover the internodes with tape or something similar.. the best way is probably the traditional wedge-and rope.
once again, that kilt is awesome. +++ for you!!
has anybody seen the movie '51state'? it's about a chemist who wears a kilt. great movie. the fact that the kilt-wearing-chemist actually is a brotha makes it even funnier. no discrimination intended!
Nick
Excellent Bows!! You have the Talent!!! Is your Kilt Leather?? Good For You My Friend!!
51st state:
(http://www.datacd.ru/dvd-prev/2001/326.jpg)
Shakes:
The kilt is a Utilikilt - do a Google search and you'll turn up their site. It's heavyweight cotton duck canvas. With all its pockets it's great for any chore where you have to carry lots of stuff. Nice and comfy too. They're pretty darn expensive these days though, so I'm fixin' to start making my own.
Nick:
That movie was released here in the states under the title "Formula 51". I thought it was great. Samuel L. Jackson once again steals the show. Glad you like the kilt. You should get one! Say "NO!" to trouser tyranny man!
Kilt:
Nice looking bows!
I would be interested in learning more about your pre-tapered ipe/bb blanks. I have tried two ipe/hickory backed bows and both have failed before I could get them off the bench. I believe that I left the hickory backing too thick and the ipe failed as result. I have made 3 oak board bows now and thought I would move on to something different and ipe seemed a good choice. Where did you get your pre-taperd blanks?
Thanks for posting and great job on the bows.
Bill,
Send me a private message and I'll let you know where I got my blanks and bamboo from.