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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: Misguided One on December 24, 2010, 01:16:00 PM

Title: A question about bamboo
Post by: Misguided One on December 24, 2010, 01:16:00 PM
I recently started my first attempt at a couple of board bows for my son and I. They are coming along nicely so far.

A friend gave me some bamboo to back them with and recommendd that I shave the pieces down to about 1/8th inch thick before glueing them on. My question is this, which tool will work best to shave the boo. I have a 6in. jointer, a surform rasp, and a draw knife available to use.

Thanks for your suggestions. Steve
Title: Re: A question about bamboo
Post by: Diamondback59 on December 24, 2010, 01:31:00 PM
best to cut the profile out to the lam ur backin it to  then take it down to knife edges  i use my belt sander  but u can hand dand it also brock
Title: Re: A question about bamboo
Post by: hova on December 24, 2010, 01:41:00 PM
also look into making a framesaw. it will help you resaw things.


if its flooring bamboo , you might want to read up a little on here . its not a great backing.

natural boo is different , and in that case you would slip it , flatten it , then strip it down to where you want it

-hov
Title: Re: A question about bamboo
Post by: Pat B on December 24, 2010, 06:16:00 PM
I've used a hand plane, rasp and belt sander to thin boo for backing. I thinned it first with a bandsaw.
Title: Re: A question about bamboo
Post by: Misguided One on December 24, 2010, 06:17:00 PM
Thanks for the suggestions

brock- no belt sander, but I may have one before the weekend is over.

hov- it's natural bamboo about 3" wide looks like it came from a piece 6 - 9 inces in diameter. Can you point me in the right direction to learn how to work it down to where it needs to be.

-steve
Title: Re: A question about bamboo
Post by: Pat B on December 24, 2010, 09:41:00 PM
You can use all three of the tools you have but be very careful with the joiner and use a push stick.
Sureform should work pretty good and the draw knife will work but I'd opt for something else.
Title: Re: A question about bamboo
Post by: Misguided One on December 24, 2010, 10:35:00 PM
Thanks Pat B.

I think I'll give it a go after the hoopla in the morning.
Title: Re: A question about bamboo
Post by: Diamondback59 on December 24, 2010, 10:46:00 PM
steve  now i know what  ur usin for  ur boo  do like i was sayin cut out the profile then get it down where ya want it and make the edges knife edges  other wise usin the full piece  youll have a hollow hump when u glue it up brock
Title: Re: A question about bamboo
Post by: hova on December 24, 2010, 11:30:00 PM
something out of a 9" piece should be pretty easy to get flat.

you could use the tools you have like pat said. if it were me , id take a sureform to it , get it all flat on the inside , then peel all the cut fibers out so you have all whole grains.


sort of like splitting it. only not...


-hov
Title: Re: A question about bamboo
Post by: Misguided One on December 26, 2010, 04:58:00 PM
Thanks for all the help guys. I went out this morning and spent about 2 hours with shurform and got both pieces down to about 3/16th" at the high point.

I'm starting to take pics of each step, when I get to the tillering I'll try to post some of them.