tribes man bow making

[inksoup]

primitive and joy to watch...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDSjYvFkbbg

[Pat B]

Pretty cool. Do you think his knife is sharp?    :eek:

[arachnid]

Seem like it's really low draw weight

[KenH]

You don't need a high draw weight for small game hunting in the jungle; but it did seem as if this was more of a "youth" bow.

Still, I make bamboo self bows the same way, with the rounded side of the culm as the belly, and I make #30 to #50 draw weights -- easily used for hunting.

[LittleBen]

that was cool. Doesn't take much to kill small game. Especially if he can track half as well as he sharpens.

[inksoup]

Originally posted by KenH:
You don't need a high draw weight for small game hunting in the jungle; but it did seem as if this was more of a "youth" bow.

Still, I make bamboo self bows the same way, with the rounded side of the culm as the belly, and I make #30 to #50 draw weights -- easily used for hunting.

can we see some of them? progress or build along maybe?

best.

[KenH]

I'll get some pix later today...

[perry f.]

I assume the weight may pick up when the bow dries.

[Mad Max]

Still, I make bamboo self bows the same way, with the rounded side of the culm as the belly, and I make #30 to #50 draw weights -- easily used for hunting. [/qb][/QUOTE]can we see some of them? progress or build along maybe?


yea

[KenH]

Took a bit to figure out how Imgur works...

Here are a couple shots of my newest Warring States era Chinese flatbow.  Not quite finished; I need to finish sand the back and color it, then wrap the handle.

 
Simple bendy-handle bamboo flatbow  52" n-t-n, 1-1/2" at the fades, #34 draw, made from a bamboo 'fence slat'.  Primary tool was a belt sander.

 
Belly side of the nock, showing the nodes.

 
Back of the bow at the handle area.

[Roy from Pa]

That's pretty cool, Ken. I might give that a try. Do you taper the boo or leave it parallel?

[Mad Max]

the fades are 1-1/2", how wide is the handle?
I have a slat that has been leaning against the wall.
deflex the wrong way for a lam bow but would be good for this kind, reflexed for  this kind of bow

[KenH]

I make the handle just about an inch wide.  You can of course go a bit wider, depending on your fence slat.  Most of them are close to 1-3/4" wide

I pretty much leave the plank parallel, but there's no reason you couldn't taper the thickness on the tips, just like you would tillering a wood bow, to get the arc you want.  Just don't take anything off the belly side.