I know of several people that have made, self include, all bamboo bows. I also know that from reading what I can find, is that they all take a set for the most part. I have one now that I am finishing up, and yes it has taken a set. My question, on these type of bows, and being over 62" would a thin layer of sinew and induced reflex of a small amouth help stop them from taking a set, or be more of a disadvantage to the quality of the bow?
Did you heat temper (before glue-up) the bow's belly Charles? You would treat an all boo bow just like any other bow that you would sinew. Just induce added reflex to pre-stress the sinew. Works fine.....Art
Yes the boo was tempered, as the best way we know how. We did it until it turned a slight caramel color. But even the one's that we have made with the bamboo flooring lams take a set. Did not temper those lams though. I think I will give this one a try. It will be my first sinew attempt, but got nothing to loose but a bow right?....LOL
I've sinewed several boo backed bows and it worked fine Charles. Would be some good experience no matter the outcome......Art
Any other imput on makeing all bamboo bows that don't take a set?
Charlie I just made one that I glued in 3.5" of tip lifted reflex and ended up with only about an inch after tillering. If you plan on glueing a bamboo backing on I would suggest adding in at least 3" of reflex by raising the tips and you will come out real close to dead even with no set or maybe 1" of reflex left over after tillering. They are dang quick when made this way also.
Don't know if that helps you at all, but that's been my somewhat limited experience with it.
In building a straight limb BBO I come out straight if I start with the tips blocked up 3 1/2. The last one held on to an inch but I wa very carefull in not overworking the limbs until tiller was near perfect.
Are you useing boo flooring for bellY ?
Pete
Yes. Raw bamboo backing, and boo flooring lams.
I'll bet those are fast bows especially when you pre stress them like that and then add the back.
Cut your boo flooring to 7/16 thickness, set your planner jointer to take 1/16 "off mark center of your boo flooring. let say you want a 66 in bow. 33" center from each tip mark up equall distances 3, 11" sections. from each tip make one pass up to the first 11" mark stop and make 2 pass from tip to the 2nd 11" mark make 3rd pass from tip to center mark 33' repeat this on other side of board. you should end up with a 1/4inch on each tip going back to 7/16" center.When glueing on backing and riser put a 6 inch block at each tip. This will give you about 4inches of reflex , after you finish tillering you will loose most but it should keep about 1 1/2" of reflex. If the total thiknes of riser lamination and backing is 2 inches you are only going up 4" with a 6" block at each tip;
The boo flooring I have varies in color across the board...and varies in density by a LARGE amount...I mean from light to very dense in one spot.
I'd rather have a real boo belly.
I have a boo flooring bow I made a couple of years ago with a hardwood backing on it and allthouth quick it has taken about 2 inch of set.Can I add sinew now adding a bit of reflex or just make another bow.
Cheers KIM