Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: turmoiler on July 02, 2018, 05:53:17 pm

Title: Bamboo backed white oak, is it possible?
Post by: turmoiler on July 02, 2018, 05:53:17 pm

Hello,
I've obtained a oak board 33mm wide 76" long. The grain is good but not perfect, so i think it needs some kind of backing. The problem is that that the only backing i have at hand is boo. I'm not aiming for a heavy bow, just 40 or 50# at 27". Do you think it will work or w. oak is to weak? What length would you use, i think 76" is too much?
Thanks

Title: Re: Bamboo backed white oak, is it possible?
Post by: Bob Barnes on July 02, 2018, 08:33:54 pm

I made one several years ago that was a mild D/R and about 62" 45#... my son shot it for maybe a year before it started fretting... it's still together but not shot any more.

Title: Re: Bamboo backed white oak, is it possible?
Post by: Dances with squirrels on July 03, 2018, 04:29:50 am

I have an early Dean Torges bow that is bamboo backed white oak. So yep, I think it could work.

Title: Re: Bamboo backed white oak, is it possible?
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on July 03, 2018, 08:28:40 am

Your success will go up if you build a straight bow in the 63-65" long range. Glue in a few inches of full limb reflex.

Title: Re: Bamboo backed white oak, is it possible?
Post by: bubby on July 03, 2018, 12:51:55 pm

Quote from: PEARL DRUMS/PEARLY/PD/DRUMS on July 03, 2018, 08:28:40 am

Your success will go up if you build a straight bow in the 63-65" long range. Glue in a few inches of full limb reflex.

What he said ☝️

Title: Re: Bamboo backed white oak, is it possible?
Post by: bushboy on July 03, 2018, 01:54:55 pm

I would think with very large diameter bamboo thinned down to 1/16th and a core that is long and wide may be the route.

Title: Re: Bamboo backed white oak, is it possible?
Post by: turmoiler on July 04, 2018, 07:26:36 am

The problem is that the board i have is only 33mm wide, that is quite narrow for a flatbow so I was thinking about a elb

Title: Re: Bamboo backed white oak, is it possible?
Post by: JNystrom on July 04, 2018, 07:37:32 am

I would trap the back, in other words make the bamboo back trapezoid (narrower). This would bring the bamboo's "strength" to oak's level. I guess it would be doable, at least at 70"+.

Title: Re: Bamboo backed white oak, is it possible?
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on July 04, 2018, 07:40:57 am

That is very narrow. I agree, make it long.