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Ash+Water Buffalo Horn+Bamboo-backed Composite Bow—Material Combination question

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Nguyennam2006:
Hi everyone,

I’m planning to make a new bow using materials I can find locally here in Vietnam.
My idea is to use ash wood as the core, water buffalo horn on the belly, and a thin bamboo layer on the back — basically a kind of horn–wood–bamboo composite bow.

I know that ash is not the most common wood for horn bows (people usually use mulberry, maple, osage, or elm), but it’s what I have available.

So I’d like to ask:

Has anyone ever tried this combination before — ash + horn + bamboo?

Would ash work well as the core in this kind of laminated construction?

If I add bamboo on the back, should I thin down the horn layer to keep the balance between tension and compression?

Here are some photos of the materials I’m planning to use:


Any advice, experience, or thoughts would be very appreciated!
Thanks a lot,

sleek:
Hey welcome to the community and tank you for being here! Im excited to see what you build :)

I have seen horn and bamboo bows built before, they work well together. The bows were osage core. The ash may work, im not educated enough on that topic. But I do know that ash board on the left, looks very poor quality, especially as you get to the top. What is stopping you from using bamboo as a core and as a packing?

Nguyennam2006:
Thanks for the warm welcome! 😊
I'm really happy to hear your thoughts.
Yes, I'm trying to make a horn bow with ash wood core and maybe add bamboo on the back.
I thought ash would be strong enough, but I see your point about the grain quality.

I’ve never tried using bamboo as the core before — that’s actually a great idea!
Do you think bamboo can handle compression well when the horn is on the belly side?

sleek:
Im very certain bamboo would work very well as a core. But, i am open to being wrong if someone in the horn bow community knows better. But, if memory serves me, bamboo is one if the core materials that has been used in the past. Either way, anything will be better that poor grain quality.

Almost any fruit or but bearing tree will make a bow, and any bow wood will make a core, are there any of those woods available to you as an option?

Pat B:
Welcome to PA. I don't build composite bows but we have a few folks here that do. I know that James Parker has built many, some with horn bellies and bamboo backs. Not sure what core he has used. You can see James' site at huntworthyproducts and contact him through that site.

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