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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: K.S.TRAPPER on July 15, 2014, 10:10:00 PM

Title: First time making a bamboo backed and bellied bow!
Post by: K.S.TRAPPER on July 15, 2014, 10:10:00 PM
I've made quite a few Bamboo backed bows but always wanted to try both. The natural bows shoot so good and this bow sure is quick. I had a old Ipe board laying in the corner and I added a black walnut handle. 64" NTN #55 @ 28

(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/null_zps28c7932f.jpg)

(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/null_zpsb31ff78e.jpg)

(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/null_zps9f01ab5f.jpg)

(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/null_zps7b4bcc84.jpg)

(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/null_zps82494932.jpg)

Shot this bow a bunch tonight and it's quite a shooter, looking forward to making some more.

Tracy
Title: Re: First time making a bamboo backed and bellied bow!
Post by: Ice Mike on July 15, 2014, 10:32:00 PM
Very nice! Great looking tiller profile too!
Title: Re: First time making a bamboo backed and bellied bow!
Post by: Sam Harper on July 15, 2014, 10:35:00 PM
Very nice.  I like the stain you put on it, too.
Title: Re: First time making a bamboo backed and bellied bow!
Post by: red hill on July 16, 2014, 12:31:00 AM
Nice bow, Tracy! Can you give some details on how you prepared the belly?
Title: Re: First time making a bamboo backed and bellied bow!
Post by: MoeM on July 16, 2014, 01:09:00 AM
Dunno if there aren`t cores suiting better than ipe but I think so...
Anyway the bow looks great with a clean tiller (a little difference between top-bottom limb, right?).
Is it straight or with some reflex?
Title: Re: First time making a bamboo backed and bellied bow!
Post by: takefive on July 16, 2014, 02:24:00 AM
Good looking bow.  Nice work    :thumbsup:
Title: Re: First time making a bamboo backed and bellied bow!
Post by: recurve25 on July 16, 2014, 05:41:00 AM
Beautiful bow! I would love to know the specs on it and a little more about how you built it.
Title: Re: First time making a bamboo backed and bellied bow!
Post by: macbow on July 16, 2014, 08:45:00 AM
Nice, I've been wanting to make one could you share the taper etc.
Title: Re: First time making a bamboo backed and bellied bow!
Post by: K.S.TRAPPER on July 16, 2014, 10:06:00 AM
Thanks guys! The belly is prepared the same as the back, this is a board bow so the challenge was there to get my tapering right before adding the belly boo. This is a strait limb design with a different riser then I normally make like the Hill style.

(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/null_zpsb38eef94.jpg)

I always add a 1.5 reflex at glue up and usually comes out strait or slight string follow after break in. This was a 3/4 inch board to start I tapered it to 1/2 at the fades and a little over 1/8 at the tips. I thought it was an 1/8th lol!

(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/null_zps3a95dda7.jpg)

(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/null_zpsdde627d1.jpg)

(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/null_zps3b42c203.jpg)

I had to trap the belly some to meet weight but not much tillering was needed I was very pleased. There is a very slight difference between the limbs but I learned a long time ago shot first and see how well they shoot before you chase that much difference. Most the time it doesn't matter at all   :thumbsup:    ;)    

Can't wait to try this on my laminated Hill Styles!

(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/095095d6.jpg)

(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/0c38c133.jpg)

Thanks for looking!

Tracy
Title: Re: First time making a bamboo backed and bellied bow!
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on July 16, 2014, 06:41:00 PM
Pretty cool bow!
Title: Re: First time making a bamboo backed and bellied bow!
Post by: steadman on July 16, 2014, 08:08:00 PM
Very nice bud! Can't wait to shoot one of those bad boys!!
Title: Re: First time making a bamboo backed and bellied bow!
Post by: bretto on July 16, 2014, 08:53:00 PM
Nice Tracy.    :clapper:  

Does Your belly Bamboo stop above the Walnut grip You've added?

bretto
Title: Re: First time making a bamboo backed and bellied bow!
Post by: bretto on July 16, 2014, 09:19:00 PM
looked at the pics again and answered my own question. Can see it plain as day in that second picture.

bretto
Title: Re: First time making a bamboo backed and bellied bow!
Post by: K.S.TRAPPER on July 16, 2014, 09:23:00 PM
Hey Brett, I think I understand what your asking and yes it comes al the way up to the handle just like fiberglass would.

Hope all is well with you buddy give me a call sometime I lost your number when my phone went out while I was in the hospital having my brain surgerys.

Tracy
Title: Re: First time making a bamboo backed and bellied bow!
Post by: wood carver 2 on July 16, 2014, 10:30:00 PM
That's a beauty! I've been building (and breaking) bamboo backed and bellied bows recently too and I really like them. Yours has a classic look and the stain on the boo looks great too.
Dave.
Title: Re: First time making a bamboo backed and bellied bow!
Post by: BMN on July 17, 2014, 08:07:00 PM
Great looking bow as always Tracy!
Title: Re: First time making a bamboo backed and bellied bow!
Post by: K.S.TRAPPER on July 17, 2014, 08:30:00 PM
Thanks Bill! This cool weather sure makes it feel like hunting season.    :archer2:    :D    

Tracy
Title: Re: First time making a bamboo backed and bellied bow!
Post by: AkDan on July 18, 2014, 06:12:00 AM
Move up her brother you'd expect snow lol!    

Great looking piece btw!
Title: Re: First time making a bamboo backed and bellied bow!
Post by: BMN on July 18, 2014, 07:49:00 AM
I know what you mean Tracy. It sure doesn't feel like July in Kansas.
Title: Re: First time making a bamboo backed and bellied bow!
Post by: frank bullitt on July 19, 2014, 12:35:00 PM
Love your "all naturals", Tracy!
Good shootin too ya!
Title: Re: First time making a bamboo backed and bellied bow!
Post by: kennym on July 19, 2014, 05:21:00 PM
Cool bow Tracy, ya bringin her to MO?
Title: Re: First time making a bamboo backed and bellied bow!
Post by: K.S.TRAPPER on July 19, 2014, 05:35:00 PM
Thanks guys, no Kenny I will be hunting with one of my Hill BBO's if the weathers dry and my Mohawk if not. Looking forward to visiting with you again. I've been making bows like crazy sure wish you were still in business miss your stuff bud!

Tracy
Title: Re: First time making a bamboo backed and bellied bow!
Post by: David Flanrey on July 19, 2014, 06:27:00 PM
Good looking bow Tracy.  Hope you get a big one with it this fall.  

Know what you mean about this weather.  All I can think about is hunting.
Title: Re: First time making a bamboo backed and bellied bow!
Post by: bigbob2 on July 19, 2014, 06:39:00 PM
great bow,love it!
Title: Re: First time making a bamboo backed and bellied bow!
Post by: steadman on August 24, 2014, 09:48:00 AM
An update on this beauty of a bow. A little history,  I've always wanted to shoot an all wood bow. I've made some laminated with glass but had an itch that needed to be scratched. So my wife throws me an early 40 yr old bday party the end of Julyyr because I will be in WY elk hunting on the real bday  :)
So she brings out a long slender tube and I see the return sender! I was beside myself to unpackage this beauty! I was able to start shooting it and quite well, bit didn't have arrows that were weak enough.
Fast forward to opening weekend. A good friend offered me his stand for later in the hunt to try for a deer. He mentioned I should use the bow Tracy sent me. He hooked me upwith some arrows. To say I was excited would ne an understatement!
So last Sunday I start shooting. The arrows are flying great! I'm shooting really well out to 20 yards. About the 20th arrow the unthinkable happens. I here a crack and my heart sank! I seriously had to hold back tears. The bottom limb cracked. The bamboo on the bottom limb on the back split, vertically. I made a call to my good buddy to relay the bad news. Tracy says the material was bad. It was good to know I didn't do anything to cause the failure, but it sure doesn't make it any easier. That was going to be the high light of an otherwise rough hunting season  :(
Thanls again bud for an awesome bow!!!
Title: Re: First time making a bamboo backed and bellied bow!
Post by: recurve25 on August 24, 2014, 10:38:00 PM
Very nice! After building a boo backed ipe and seeing how fast and hard hitting it shoots I've been thinking about doing a boo back and belly.
Title: Re: First time making a bamboo backed and bellied bow!
Post by: Bob at Work on August 25, 2014, 01:47:00 PM
steadman- hate to hear that it broke, but at least you didn't get hurt.  It happens to the best of them.