Primitive Archer

Information and Resources => Message Board Q & A => Topic started by: rkeltner on July 04, 2007, 02:55:25 am

Title: bamboo strips
Post by: rkeltner on July 04, 2007, 02:55:25 am

i have been brainstorming about backings and was wondering if anybody had ever tried to use either chair maker's cane or bamboo strips laid in a parallel configuration on the back of a bow? would that work, or would there be problems with glue failure or splitting?

Title: Re: bamboo strips
Post by: MattE on July 04, 2007, 08:54:45 am

Every thing you mentioned has been tried. Ben Pearson made bows in the fifties that used two strips of bamboo side by side the length of the bow. I don't understand why bowyers today don't use this method ? It works!

Title: Re: bamboo strips
Post by: Pat B on July 04, 2007, 10:31:41 am

I read years ago about using bamboo blinds slats, glued side by side for backing. I might have been Tim Barker and either in one of the TBB series or an old PA Magazine.  I use rattan chair caning for handle wraps but I don't think it would be strong enough for a backing. Rattan is a vine and has nodes like bamboo. Those nodes are the weak link.    Pat