Bamboo Back & Belly Reflex Bow ( better full draw pic added as requested)

[dragonman]

Zion...I'll get a better pic with the bow pulled further
Bushboy...A heatgun is faster, but less uniform. A long slow heat is better.. I think!!
Badly...you pretty much aim for symetry and you have to have a good idea of limb thickness and taper before you start. If the limbs are out of balance, then its 'relatively' easy to tiller with gentle heat and pressure. I'm no expert on these bows though, just trying and learning as I go...

[Arrowind]

That bow is soooooo cool!!!  Just awesome!  Good job!  I'm with the others, would love to shoot it!

[Keenan]

Thats is very nice. I bet she smokes an arrow. I did a simlar glue up years ago and it was one of the fastest bows I've built.  The one I did was less reflex and more of a five curve but I really like the looks of that. Congratulations

[Carson (CMB)]

Wow, that's sweet looking! the braced and unbraced pictures look the same but reversed.

They sure do, I had to go back through to find the unbraced pic.  That is wicked.  4-5 hrs over coals?  That sounds like some serious slow roasting.  Nice work. 

[steve b.]

Wow, really nice.  Dragonman, can you explain the heat treat a little, how hot do you get it, how do you know when it is done?  thanks

[Shaun]

Nice fast looking bow. I'd like to see a FULL draw picture. The one you posted looks like a half draw...

Did you tiller the bamboo before glue up?

[dragonman]

Heres a slightly better full draw pic. as requested. I dont have a long draw myself, so this is as far as I pull it . Even though I tiller it to 27" in case others shoot it..... If they pull 28" or over I dont let them pull it!

Steve. Heat guns roast the surface without penetrating inside enough and they make it difficult to get a uniform toasting. I got this info from Yumi bow makers. You want to make a big fire , let it burn down, and arrange the coals in line. then support the boo at the right height above  the fire. Leave the boo slightly thicker and toast more from the inside, not the rind side. Keep turning and turning. Aiming to shrink all the fibres right through. You can smell it cooking. It will be a golden brown right through the boo. The inner surface may be too burned but plane that off......hope thats clear.....thats my way anyway...I'm sure there are other ways.

[BowEd]

WOW.For sure.Your final mass weight,reflex and draw weight & length spell speed.The rock maple,the heat treatment of bamboo.The glued up profile & tillering.Nice when a plan comes together.Congradulations.

[Lee Slikkers]

thanks guys. Lee I used epoxy and I only lightly grooved the surfaces..not to match up ,just to ensure a good glue up.

Thanks for the info Dave...I'll have to move my Boo in from the garage to get the moisture content down so I can start mine soon.

[Parnell]

Excellent work Dragonman!  Arrows must scream from that bow. 

When you toasted the bamboo - you wrote to keep turning and turning.  So did you hold the bamboo the duration of those 4-5 hours rocking it over the coals or did you actually fully turn it exposing the rind side to the heat?

Well done Dave!

[bushboy]

Did you have it wired up in reflex when u toasted it or just left it flat and pulled it in 4 the glue up? Thx's

[Shaun]

Thanks for posting another full draw pic. That is one sweet bow and interesting info on tempering the boo with coals. Fine work all around.

[dragonman]

Parnell. I rigged up a shelf over the fire and raised and lowered it to keep the heat right, then toasted both sides for about 10-15mins each side, the rind side and the side to be glued,and kept turning... so you turn it as it starts to go brown. I just meant that overall I toasted the inside more than the rind side. The yumi bowyers smoke their bamboo for days prior to this.They say the important thing is to use hard ,old bamboo for the belly.

Bushboy....I didnt toast in any reflex...just glued it in...

and good luck with yours ..Lee

[Dvshunter]

That is an awesome bow. Great job.