Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: legend on September 18, 2017, 02:21:04 pm
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Hello All ,
I am trying to find out as much information as I can regarding archery and bows in general by researching through PA forum , but I am confused about a certain bow . That being Dave Meades Bamboo horse bow which seems to go down well , especially in the US . Everything I read tells me that a bamboo bow should be constructed with the outer bamboo surface for the belly and the inner for the back of the bow . I am really curious to know why meads horse bows are constructed the opposite way round and what if any difference this makes . It would be great to have some views from people who have bought one of Daves bows ?
Thanks
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Bamboo is commonly used for a backing (with the outer surface for the back).
It might be interestering to read the references that use the outer surface on the belly (and the inner for the back)
can you post some links?
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Dave Mead is a member here but he is a busy guy maybe PM him and ask him to comment !
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James Parker has built a few boo horse bows. He uses tempered boo for the belly and boo backing(not tempered) with a multi stripped maple core. I've shot one of James' boo horse bows and they shoot very well.
You might post this on the "horn bow" section and/or contact James.
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I am sure he makes that ,, with that design ,, because it works for him,,
I have seen bows with the inside of the bamboo for the back,, as well,, both designs would seem to work well,,
most guys on this forum make there own bows,, and bamboo bows dont seem to made very much,,, or I dont remember reading about them much,,
good luck with your research,,
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It's the type of bamboo he uses that allows this. The power fibers run deeper plus the natural hollow limb design allows a lighter limb.
The bows from Bhutan are the other way around and most bamboo won't let you get away with this
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I think I'am right on this.
lebhuntfish (Patrick) has one he brought to MoJam
It's a slat of bamboo with the Siyah's lashed on with leather, you un lash it to break it down.
It creeks when you draw it.
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I got one and nobody that has ever shot it didn't walk away amazed. Kinda weak on the aesthetics, but that isn't what it is about. I suspect he is doing some sneaky heat treatment to the limb slats, but I have yet to get any details out of him.
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thanks for your replies guys , interesting answers as it was a bow I am considering buying . One other question I was going to ask is , what would happen if you were to modify the Siyahs on this horse bow to reduce the bulk slightly ? I am sure Dave knows what he is doing but I am just curious ?
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leave the ones like they are,, and make ones to your specs and see how they work. )P(
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thanks for your replies guys , interesting answers as it was a bow I am considering buying . One other question I was going to ask is , what would happen if you were to modify the Siyahs on this horse bow to reduce the bulk slightly ? I am sure Dave knows what he is doing but I am just curious ?
Pretty sure I've seen them with drilled out sections to lighten them. Like anything though you get to the point of diminished returns.
Particularly with sharp siyahs, increased bulk doesn't translate to the handshock you may think it would create. Same with speed gains per tip mass reduction.
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Yeah, i have one too. pretty nice. HLD. Need to try it with light arrows. I want to try 5" brace with a d97 string
I also made a bamboo bow with what i think was tonkin and with most power fibers on the outside, with the inside as the back it was making cracking noises.. with the outside as the back it'll be more durable but may take more set depending on the bamboo, or even have less draw weight?
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In your opinion Guys , if one of these bows were backed with Sinew , would speed be affected or would it definitely enhance performance ?
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Your question is too simple. Whether sinew enhances performance depends on more than just putting it on.
Certainly If I was making one of these bows with that particular bamboo and backing it with sinew I would flip the bamboo around.
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leave the ones like they are,, and make ones to your specs and see how they work. )P(
I think brad has the right idea with his advice. You might get a variety of comments from third parties here in this thread about how to modify his product, but I am not sure how Dave would think of you as a customer, by soliciting others to second guess his designs.
I see that he provides kits for different levels of completions, and for all we know, he might even have some positive suggestions for a kit that would utilize some of your ideas. I would encourage you to contact him directly.
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Dave mead offers a sinew backed version of his bow
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Hi Willie ,
I have probably wrongly worded my question . No I am not questioning Daves design or anyone to second guess them , I am genuinely curious about his bow , and as I was thinking of buying one I obviously want to know what I would be paying for . I respect the fact if he has some secret design to his bow , that is his right to keep that to himself . Saying this , I would like to hear any feedback from the people who have bought one .
Thanks .
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legend,
I see that he sells direct. Are you considering a kit? Might make for a nice build-a-long type thread.
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There is a vid of Dave experimenting with sinew on his bow on utube if I remember right , don't remember the stats but worth a google search if your interested ! My guess is with the added mass unless you can get it to hold substantially more reflex it probably going to have a negative affect on speed but that's just my 2 cents !
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Thanks for comments Guys .
Yeh Willie I would buy the kit form , when I get round to it but at present I am taking my time trying to make a success of a self / recurve bow from an English Elm stave .There is a good guy on the forum from the UK who lives near me and who has built literally hundreds of bows and gives me some great advice on my newbe attempts . I am also following one of Gordons buildalongs which I find really good to follow .
Cheers
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David is a pretty bright guy and has diddled with this design hundreds of ways. Frankly, I think the siyahs are right up to the very edge of the limits as they are. David has told me he has to pick through a lot of maple to get proper grain orientation in order to thin them the way they are and with the holes drilled in them, too.
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David is a pretty bright guy and has diddled with this design hundreds of ways. Frankly, I think the siyahs are right up to the very edge of the limits as they are. David has told me he has to pick through a lot of maple to get proper grain orientation in order to thin them the way they are and with the holes drilled in them, too.
Yeah i messaged him quite a bit when you got your kit jw, he is sharp as a tack and has this dialed in imo
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David is a pretty bright guy and has diddled with this design hundreds of ways. Frankly, I think the siyahs are right up to the very edge of the limits as they are. David has told me he has to pick through a lot of maple to get proper grain orientation in order to thin them the way they are and with the holes drilled in them, too.
Yeah i messaged him quite a bit when you got your kit jw, he is sharp as a tack and has this dialed in imo
He is as polished as a dentist with a jackhammer, but the bows he sells speak volumes. And he quickly grows on you if you ever get to talking with him. I really wanna see him get his butt out to Wendover for the International Flight Shoot. He would really soak up the information and start reaching for new world records.
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Good to hear Guys
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Old thread, but because of the short time it takes to build one of his horse bow designs, and the end results of it's performance it is worth renewing.I have built a dozen or, so of them all modified. His design always seems to shoot harder than mine. He uses top line tempered bamboo, and longer ,sharper siyahs. I have made a few of these bows with bamboo floor boards that do OK over all. Simple, and efficient design to make for beginning bow builders while their wood is seasoning etc.
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From someone who used to make bows for a living....he makes them like that because it is quick and easy. you could really krank the numbers out with that design. Doing it 'properly' takes a whole heap of time and the difficualty is on another level.....time = money....
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But if it works it works, and lots of positive deed back on his bows by guys who have owned them.
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I have one. Super good shooter. The performance at Dave’s price point is unmatched in my opinion and he’s a really great guy to boot.
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And made in the USA.
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bownarra, no reflection on you. I think you live in England. Just nice to buy from small business owners over here.
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I love the super refined works of art some folks turn out. But the target (or deer) doesn't know the difference. Dave Mead's bows have all the performance you need, if you are under a budget.
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Yes ,and if you want to you can make your own. Pretty straight forward design.
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Wish I found this post before I posted my build progress. I’m currently building a 5 piece horse/Mongolian style bow similar to Dave’s bow. I’ve watched a few of his videos and he gets decent speed out of such a simple design. I ended up heat treating with hot coals the belly of my limbs for about 30mins till lightly browned then for an hour at reduced heat to further cook. I’m not sure how Dave mead dose his but the results should be good. Or really bad I guess I’ll find out! I fire harden other bows so I figured I’d try it. I have tried few kids bows with out heat just using raw bamboo and a varying amount of set was taken. Check out my post if you want. I’ll post some more progress pics and let you know the results of this little rest bow to see what speeds I get.