More Stupid Bamboo Questions

[ShinneryOak]

I'm still climbing up the learning curve for bamboo. Finally got a bench type belt & disk sander. Several questions before I have at it. 1. It looks like everyone takes the "rind" off the back. In the last P.A., Marc St. Louis says to take it off  (carefully) like a spring growth ring on Osage but doesn't specify how- hand sanding or even a drawknife? 2. I also assume the nodes are taken down flush with the back. 3. Assume the round back profile is not flattened out at all. ( I've never seen a boo backed bow in the flesh- and hard to tell from photos.) 4. What finishes or sealers work on a boo back? Thanks in advance.

[Pat B]

I have limited experience with boo backings but here is my take...
1) You don't have to take the rind off unless you want to stain the boo. I think sanding is your best option. I have scraped it but it leaves small nicks that can lead to splinters raising on the back.
2) I leave the nodes proud for the same reason. You can remove the narrow corky stuff right at the node joint with no ill effects.
3) The round back is not flattened. You do however want to flatten the under side so the thickness of the boo backing strip is no more than 1/8" at the crown. This will give you a "razor" edge along each side for a 1 1/2" to 1 3/8" wide strip.
4) I used Tru-Oil on the boo backed bows I built. Almost ant good bow finish should work.

[HoBow]

I leave the rind on unless I want t due it and leave the nodes proud

[HoBow]

I leave the rind on unless I want t dye it and leave the nodes proud

[NTD]

You'll also want to sand the rind if you are gluing snake skin to it.

[bowmo]

Yea I've never taken the rind off aside from the few I backed with skins. And I also leave the nodes as they are aside from some light sanding on the top overlap as they tend to terminate with a little roughness that can lead to splinters.

dan

[Grunt]

Most boo failure I have seen is a result of oversanding. All you want to do is hit it VERY lightly with 220. Just break the glaze enough for it to grab some alcohol based dye.

[bryan irwin]

i leave it on light sanding and round over the edges.

[Justin Snyder]

I have sanded down until you could see the power fibers and rounded the nodes to almost nothing and still not had a problem. I think there is more to it than we understand, I don't think the failures are just from sanding.

[mullet]

 I have done both. I think the failures are from overstressing and bad bamboo.