Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Bamboo-Bows on April 15, 2021, 11:56:18 am

Title: Bamboo Bow 57lbs at 30.5"
Post by: Bamboo-Bows on April 15, 2021, 11:56:18 am: Finished a new one this week that I'd like to share with you.

The bow pulls 57lbs at 30.5 inches and has a max draw of 32. I made a set of arrows to go with it.
I put a stingray arrow pass and rattan wrappings in the centre. The bow is made out of a bamboo backing, belly and core.

I used swan feathers for the arrows. Swan feathers are great fletchings even in the rain. These feathers are not dyed or bleached and still have some grease on them. I split them by hand and burn them into shape.
The string sits in the centre of the bow and can be shot with either mediterranean and/or thumbring release.

This bow has a core of bamboo, greenheart and black locust. Using strips of wood the core becomes very stable. I used bamboo strips hardened over a coal fire to get the most out of the material. The bamboo becomes stiffer but there is a fine line to hardening and burning. Something that has been done for millennia. You can compare it with heat treating a belly of the bow like you would with a selfbow. It makes it better resistant to compression.
Using strips in the core really benefits the stability.

Stats:
Lenght: 68 inches long
Drawweight: 57 lbs at 30.5 inches
String: Dyneema 12 strand
Material: Bamboo back and belly. Greenheart, black locust and bamboo core. Horn nocks

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51116351532_215f88935d_h.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kSYErJ)Foto 10-04-2021 13 53 23 (https://flic.kr/p/2kSYErJ) by Bamboo Bows (https://www.flickr.com/photos/189784433@N07/), on Flickr

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51117712315_7c09a672b3_h.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kT6CXv)Foto 14-04-2021 10 56 09 (https://flic.kr/p/2kT6CXv) by Bamboo Bows (https://www.flickr.com/photos/189784433@N07/), on Flickr

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51116914486_15968e6350_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kT2xMQ)IMG_4603 (https://flic.kr/p/2kT2xMQ) by Bamboo Bows (https://www.flickr.com/photos/189784433@N07/), on Flickr

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51116351572_e261dbc428_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kSYEsq)Foto 05-04-2021 15 45 31 (https://flic.kr/p/2kSYEsq) by Bamboo Bows (https://www.flickr.com/photos/189784433@N07/), on Flickr

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51117712385_cd7b2643cb_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kT6CYH)Foto 05-04-2021 15 23 10 (https://flic.kr/p/2kT6CYH) by Bamboo Bows (https://www.flickr.com/photos/189784433@N07/), on Flickr

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51116914421_034ed12add_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kT2xLH)Foto 05-04-2021 15 23 03 (https://flic.kr/p/2kT2xLH) by Bamboo Bows (https://www.flickr.com/photos/189784433@N07/), on Flickr

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51116351652_bcb8ab614f_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kSYEtN)IMG_4613 (https://flic.kr/p/2kSYEtN) by Bamboo Bows (https://www.flickr.com/photos/189784433@N07/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Bamboo Bow 57lbs at 30.5"
Post by: Parnell on April 15, 2021, 01:08:15 pm: Very beautiful work, all the way around. Excellent pictures and clearly stated post. Very nice job!
Title: Re: Bamboo Bow 57lbs at 30.5"
Post by: Del the cat on April 15, 2021, 02:18:49 pm: Nice job.
You say "core of bamboo, greenheart and black locust. Using strips of wood the core becomes very stable"
How is that core laid up? Slats running conventionally like a laminate or back to belly |||||||| ?
Del
Title: Re: Bamboo Bow 57lbs at 30.5"
Post by: hoosierf on April 15, 2021, 05:31:15 pm: Super cool bow.
Title: Re: Bamboo Bow 57lbs at 30.5"
Post by: bownarra on April 16, 2021, 02:45:06 am: Looks good from here :)
Have you got any pictures of the core and how you made it? Especially where it transisitiopns from limb to handle area.
I've been meaning to try these sort of bows for agres but never got around to it.....
Title: Re: Bamboo Bow 57lbs at 30.5"
Post by: simk on April 16, 2021, 04:45:17 am: Great Bow all over! Love it (-S
Whats the physical weight?
How do you tiller these? Is it possible to tiller any on the belly after the glueup or do you just have to have all the tapers right before glueup?
cheers :OK
Title: Re: Bamboo Bow 57lbs at 30.5"
Post by: Pappy on April 16, 2021, 08:21:02 am: Beautiful bow, nice work. :)
Pappy
Title: Re: Bamboo Bow 57lbs at 30.5"
Post by: BowEd on April 16, 2021, 08:29:10 am: Very well done.
Title: Re: Bamboo Bow 57lbs at 30.5"
Post by: elisonj on April 16, 2021, 08:30:06 am: Nice one! Congrats!
Title: Re: Bamboo Bow 57lbs at 30.5"
Post by: Santanasaur on April 16, 2021, 10:30:31 am: Beauty. Very impressive profiles and construction
Title: Re: Bamboo Bow 57lbs at 30.5"
Post by: RyanY on April 16, 2021, 07:05:35 pm: That color combo is just gorgeous. Love the look of this one.
Title: Re: Bamboo Bow 57lbs at 30.5"
Post by: elijahjmhutchinson on April 16, 2021, 09:35:58 pm: Beautiful work! Its fun to see these asiatic bow styles with the dramatic curves.
Title: Re: Bamboo Bow 57lbs at 30.5"
Post by: Bamboo-Bows on April 23, 2021, 10:47:12 am: Quote from: Del the cat on April 15, 2021, 02:18:49 pm
Nice job.
You say "core of bamboo, greenheart and black locust. Using strips of wood the core becomes very stable"
How is that core laid up? Slats running conventionally like a laminate or back to belly |||||||| ?
Del

The core is laid up just like a yumi core. The strips are put side by side and then laminated together. So they run on a 90 degree angle in stead of normal laminates.
Title: Re: Bamboo Bow 57lbs at 30.5"
Post by: Bamboo-Bows on April 23, 2021, 10:50:18 am: Quote from: simk on April 16, 2021, 04:45:17 am
Great Bow all over! Love it (-S
Whats the physical weight?
How do you tiller these? Is it possible to tiller any on the belly after the glueup or do you just have to have all the tapers right before glueup?
cheers :OK

The bow is already left the workshop ;) So I did not weigh the bow. It is possible to some extend to tiller the bow after the glue up. But if the shape and tapers don't match it won't work very well, it will result in a weaker bow with less speed.