New Bamboo backed Ipe bow

[canopyboy]

Heck, you say it's dense right? And you have it? And you don't have anything else at the moment that resembles ipe?

Just go for it. What have you got to lose?

   

[Ismail]

Originally posted by canopyboy:
Heck, you say it's dense right? And you have it? And you don't have anything else at the moment that resembles ipe?

Just go for it. What have you got to lose?

       

You right. Too much talking. Lets start doing some work and ripping those boards up.

Marked the boards last night. Going to cut it 1 1/4" (31mm) wide.

Pardon me using mm, not used to inches yet.

[Roy from Pa]

I would make the board 1 1/2 wide. Then get the boo cut to the exact shape you want the bow to be. Then glue it up. After that's dry, glue on a riser, let that dry then cut everything out.

[Ismail]

Marked it 1 1/2 (38mm).

Not getting a chance to cut the boards though. Children want me to tell them a story before bed.

Maybe should tell them about an old man far away who helps people make bows.

Should have it cut by tomm. Will put up the pics.

[macbow]

Roys technique in shaping the bamboo then glueing to slightly larger boad worksreally well. Bamboo is then the template to cut the board.

Also by cutting the Bamboo to shape first you can thin and flatten the bamboo evenly or taper before glue up.

[mikkekeswick]

Safer to leave your boo 1/16ths to an 1/8th bigger all around. In case of movement when clamping or wrapping,especially if you haven't done much lam bow making. Boo also holds onto moisture like a good 'un and can move from this during curing.

[Ismail]

Here's the board cut to 1 1/2 wide.



This is the other side, the decking side with the grooves.



Right now I brought the thickness down to 1/2". If I take off the grooves another 1mm or 2mm will be lost. Is that ok?

Was aiming for 65" bow length (draw length is 27").

Cut the board to 66". Will adjust the exact height after the glue up.

So far everyone happy?

[macbow]

Should still make weight after removing the grooves.
Certainly don't want the grooves there at glue up.

[macbow]

Mike has a point on bamboo and moisture.
Most bamboo is too moist for glue up when received aftermy first thinning and flattening I store my bamboo in a heat box to bring the mosture level down.

[Roy from Pa]

The grooves gotta go. You could go down to 60" for a 27 draw length. Follow the first few steps of this thread below. Notice the bamboo backing there. It is cut to the EXACT shape of the finished bow. Make your boo like that, taper it tkickness wise, then lay it on the board and run a string down the center, tip to tip. Get it straight. Clamp it down to your bench and drill 2 holes in the handle area and 2 holes on each side of the limb tips at the end. After you apply the glue, stick tooth picks into those holes. That will keep it straight when you clamp it down. BE SURE to pad the back and belly of the bow when you clamp it up. The padding keeps the clamps from indenting the material.

 http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=125;t=013158

[Ismail]

Working with the bamboo at the moment.

Made the bow length 61".

Handle area with flares is 8".

How much past the flares should i hold the 1 1/4" before i taper to the 1/2" tips?

[Ismail]

Forgot to mention, the top limb is 1" longer than the bottom limb.

[Roy from Pa]

6 inches...

[Crooked Stic]

I have had plenty of ipe that looks like that.

[Ismail]

Relief to hear that. How good quality bows you getting from it?

[Crooked Stic]

I use it for ibeam material in risers. All the bows I build are glass back and belly with actionboo cores.

[Ismail]

Here is the bamboo cut to bow size with the ipe next to it.

The decking grooves are sanded off also.



The handle is slightly bulging and not shaped up. Should I leave it to sort out after glue up?

Planning on using Resorcinol for glue up.

[macbow]

Yes leave it "close" till much later.

[Ismail]

Making the limb posts at the moment.

Made it according to Roys link above:

Centre post 3 3/4
Mid limb posts 2 3/4
End posts 6"

Using a meranti piece from an old door frame.

[Ismail]

When doing the glue up, first glue up the lams, then clamp it to the form?