Thoughts on bamboo back and bamboo belly

[Scott E]

The idea of a bamboo back and belly with wood lams as a core is interesting to me. Anybody ever build one? Thoughts? Pictures?

[milehi101]

I really like bamboo and I use it for Back, Belly and Core.  I have built 1 piece and 3 piece long bows from 62 inches to 68 inches.  They are great shooting bows

[Sam Harper]

James Parker used to do it that way, and from what I hear, his bows are pretty awesome.  You should google him.  HIs bows were pretty, too.  Check these out:

http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=120248;p=1

milehi, I'm curious how you glue yours up.  Since the bamboo is radiused on the back and belly, it doesn't fit neatly on a form, and if you clamped it up on a 2x4 or something with spacers, it seems like it would be hard to apply the clamps to the fades.

I've seen some people use the string and wedge method.  I haven't tried that myself.  It looks time consuming and difficult.  I can see myself cussing because of not being able to get a wedge in or something going awry that I hadn't thought of.

[Sam Harper]

Here's a really cool bow showing the wedge and string method:

http://paleoplanet69529.yuku.com/topic/55128/Fantasy-bow-reality#.UkpdBjm4g20

[Sam Harper]

I've used bamboo flooring on lots of my bows.  It works really well.  It just takes a lot of set, so you have to put in a lot of initial reflex when you glue it up.  I don't put any deflex in those bows, because it'll end up with a little deflex once it's tillered.  Here's one of mine:

[MoeM]

Here you may find other pics, althoug it`s in German;
  bamboobows
Guess a split boo belly won`t take that much set as an aboo belly does- and it can be heat treatened.
You can check out Japanese yumi bows for construction techniques as well, there are for example some nice vids on YT. Jap Coppendrayer (guess the name IS NOT writen this way...) is also an expert for yumis and pure boo bows I think.

[Scott E]

Those james parker bows are sweet!

[Sam Harper]

Vinson Miner used to make some really nice bows with bamboo on the back and belly, too.  He was a student (and relative) of James Parker's.  Here's some of his:

[Sam Harper]

Here's some more James Parker bows:

http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php?topic=7562.0