Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Sidmand on April 04, 2015, 10:09:58 am

Title: Can bamboo be spliced at the handle for backing?
Post by: Sidmand on April 04, 2015, 10:09:58 am

I ordered 2 pieces of boo for backing, and they are each a touch over 8 foot long.  I'm going to create at least 2 boo backed Ipe bows that are 60" long, leaving me a bit over 3 feet of boo left from each piece.  I was wondering if anyone here had spliced 2 pieces of boo together for backing on a non-bendy handle bow?  My guess would be that it would be OK if the handle didn't bend, but I would like to get opinions from folks a lot more experienced would be much better than my guess.

Title: Re: Can bamboo be spliced at the handle for backing?
Post by: PatM on April 04, 2015, 10:26:53 am

Of course. I believe you can even find a diagram on here on various methods of having the two pieces mesh at the handle.

Title: Re: Can bamboo be spliced at the handle for backing?
Post by: adams89 on April 04, 2015, 10:27:50 am

yes that's no problem if it's not in a bending part.

Title: Re: Can bamboo be spliced at the handle for backing?
Post by: Sidmand on April 04, 2015, 10:34:57 am

would a good flat splice work, or do I need to do a V or Z splice?  All I have for cutting is a terrible Harbor Freight pull saw, so the less room I have to screw up the slice cut the better my odds of doing this right.

Title: Re: Can bamboo be spliced at the handle for backing?
Post by: Pat B on April 04, 2015, 10:47:40 am

A scarf joint would probably be the best but a butt splice should work, especially with a non-bending handle and maybe an overlay.

Title: Re: Can bamboo be spliced at the handle for backing?
Post by: PatM on April 04, 2015, 10:49:17 am

Here's the link to the how-to by James.  You'll have to open each pic attachment. http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,25025.msg336423.html#msg336423

Title: Re: Can bamboo be spliced at the handle for backing?
Post by: Sidmand on April 04, 2015, 10:56:38 am

thanks all!  I think I will go with that 'scarf' joint, I can pull that one off with just sanding.  I think I will go with boo, a maple powerlam, ipe, and then an osage or ipe handle.  Might try to do a little bit of reflex/deflex on this one and see how it turns out.

Title: Re: Can bamboo be spliced at the handle for backing?
Post by: Jim Davis on April 04, 2015, 06:39:32 pm

If the handle is not bending, you don't need to splice it at all. Just bring the ends to meet at the middle. I just repaired a bow by backing one limb with hickory. The hickory just comes to the middle of the bow and ends there. It's fne.

Title: Re: Can bamboo be spliced at the handle for backing?
Post by: KS51 on April 04, 2015, 07:19:50 pm

I have done this many times. I flatten the pieces first, then I use a scarf joint by overlapping the 2 pieces on my miter saw and cutting a compound miter (30 +30).  Then I use a short piece of veneer and glue the pieces to it and mate up the scarf joint.  This gives me one long piece I can treat like a single piece.  Nice thing about it is that you can get symmetric node spacing from the handle towards the tips.

Ken

Note:  don't stack the pieces on top of each other.  Shim one side of the miter saw bed and overlap where you want the center to be.