Bamboo nodes : sand or press?

[stuckinthemud]

Perk to being home, my better half wanted the bamboo thinned a little. Half hour later 25 sticks between 7mm and 12mm are drying in the rafters! That gives me a push to pull down the canes dried feom last summer. Is it best to sand down the nodes, or, to presd them flat?

[Pat B]

Some folks successfully sand the nodes but don't do it until after the cane has been straightened. They seem to break at a node if you sand it first before straightening. I prefer to compress the nodes by heating and compress under a wood block rolled over a smooth surface. I do this last but before I temper the shaft.

[Buck67]

Pat, I don't want to derail this conversation.  I just tried heating and rolling down the nodes and was pleased to find that it works great.  Now what does heat treating bamboo entail?

[Pat B]

I use our kitchen gas stove for a heat source for straightening arrows. What I do is start at one end and heat and rotate the shaft slowly as working from one end to another then lay them flat to cool. Be very careful when you get to the other end. There will be steam and it will burn you. After this you may have to do a little more straightening.

[stuckinthemud]

How do you know the shaft is tempered?

[Pat B]

Slight discoloration.

[DC]

Have you found it makes much difference in the spine Pat?

[Pat B]

DC, I only check spine of cane arrows to find the stiff side which goes against the bow. I imagine tempering would stiffen the cane shaft.

[DC]

I'll have to try one. I'll measure the spine before and after