Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Mad Max on July 06, 2014, 10:20:18 pm

Title: Scraping Bamboo Backing (NODES)
Post by: Mad Max on July 06, 2014, 10:20:18 pm

Saw a post some where on sanding ? the peak of the nodes
I'am going to scrape the bamboo between the nodes with a razor blade very lightly.  yes?
Thanks

Title: Re: Scraping Bamboo Backing (NODES)
Post by: jeffhalfrack on July 06, 2014, 10:44:41 pm

I have been lucky with green scotch brite pads to remove the rind good luck JeffW

Title: Re: Scraping Bamboo Backing (NODES)
Post by: KS51 on July 06, 2014, 11:17:04 pm

I just sand with 100 grit down through the rind (cambrium layer).  When it changes color, I stop.  I only do the nodes lightly until the rough stuff is gone.  I don't think I would use any type of sharp edged scraper.  One careless move and the fibers could be violated/cut. And the stuff on the top takes the most tension.  Given the amount of work it takes to prep and glue-up the boo, I wouldn't risk a careless mistake.  Sanding the boo is my last step before finishing, so I have a lot of time invested when I get to that point.

Ken,

PS I have seen bows where stain/stencils were done on the boo, but they only sanded the hard outer portion of the rind off and left the (creamy colored) middle rind in place.  This part of the bamboo will hold stain, unlike the main part, which won't take stain easily.

Title: Re: Scraping Bamboo Backing (NODES)
Post by: Mad Max on July 06, 2014, 11:40:21 pm

Thanks

Title: Re: Scraping Bamboo Backing (NODES)
Post by: toomanyknots on July 07, 2014, 12:40:08 am

I always use a scraper. The card kind that has a burr rolled onto the edge. It has worked fine for me on many a bow.

EDIT: Oh, and I don't mess with the nodes, just scape the stuff between the nodes. Don't over do it. Just remove it till it changes color, and stop.

Title: Re: Scraping Bamboo Backing (NODES)
Post by: Eric Krewson on July 07, 2014, 09:33:16 am

I have made 50 BBOs, scraped the rind off with a cabinet scraper on most of them but had a few more bamboo failures than I would have liked. I started filing the nodes down to where the crease was barely visible, now I only knock off the sharp edge.

I got gun shy about using a scraper and now sand the rind off only to the point that the color changes on most of the area between the nodes, no failures so far. Because my bamboo has some tiny valleys on the back I will leave a little bit of the rind, which stains up really neat with dark streaks.

Here is a sanded and stained(leather dye) bamboo back like I make now. I rubbed the stain out to lighten it between the nodes with a scotch bright pad.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v181/ekrewson/Chads%20bow%20repair/finishedbowstain.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/ekrewson/media/Chads%20bow%20repair/finishedbowstain.jpg.html)

Title: Re: Scraping Bamboo Backing (NODES)
Post by: Marc St Louis on July 07, 2014, 10:28:41 am

I take the peak of the nodes down with a coarse file then sand it down but leave the crease visible, always going along the limbs and not across.  I also scrape the rind off but do as Eric, if there are valleys then what is left in there stays there.

Title: Re: Scraping Bamboo Backing (NODES)
Post by: Mad Max on July 07, 2014, 05:56:22 pm

Good Info Guy's

Thanks everybody