Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: kayakfisher on August 31, 2008, 11:27:13 pm

Title: Red Oak and Bamboo
Post by: kayakfisher on August 31, 2008, 11:27:13 pm

My sixteen year old son decided he wanted the pride of building his own bow. So we went to lows lumber yard  and bought the best Red Oak board that we could purchase . So he could get started on it after roughing it out I notice that the grain was not the best in some places. Seriously considering a Bamboo backing on it ,has anyone built a Oak and Bamboo laminate before . Do not want failure on his first one has watched to many of mine blow up.
                                                     Dennis

Title: Re: Red Oak and Bamboo
Post by: Dano on August 31, 2008, 11:56:42 pm

You don't have to back it with bamboo, you can use hickory, silk, cotton, rawhide, hemp. How bad is the grain, how many run outs do ya have?

Oh yeah I forgot, http://mysite.verizon.net/georgeandjoni/ Jawge has some good info on red oak board bows.

Title: Re: Red Oak and Bamboo
Post by: knightd on September 01, 2008, 12:03:47 am

I would recommend one of the other backings and not the boo. There is a good possibility that the boo will over power the red oak core..JMO..

David

Title: Re: Red Oak and Bamboo
Post by: bcbull on September 01, 2008, 12:18:44 am

  if it was me  id get a 1/8 strip  of pig nut hickory    thats what my kid did on his ffirst and it s worked so far ,, good luck and show  us the pic s when he gets it done brock

Title: Re: Red Oak and Bamboo
Post by: NOMADIC PIRATE on September 01, 2008, 06:34:59 am

(http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d124/NorthShoreLB/Bamboo%20red%20oak/DSCF0009.jpg)

(http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d124/NorthShoreLB/Bamboo%20red%20oak/DSCF0006.jpg)

(http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d124/NorthShoreLB/Bamboo%20red%20oak/DSCF0010.jpg)


(http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d124/NorthShoreLB/Bamboo%20red%20oak/DSCF0004.jpg)


(http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d124/NorthShoreLB/Bamboo%20red%20oak/DSCF0015.jpg)

Title: Re: Red Oak and Bamboo
Post by: Dano on September 01, 2008, 01:17:26 pm

I was hopeing you'd post this bow Manny, everybody says, you can't back red oak with bamboo.

 ::)

Title: Re: Red Oak and Bamboo
Post by: Badger on September 01, 2008, 01:25:52 pm

    One of the guys in our group Jon, built a very nice one as well. I would be afraid of the boo overpowering as well. I think if you use nice full arc tiller and keep the boo thin it can work out pretty well. Steve

Title: Re: Red Oak and Bamboo
Post by: Badbill on September 01, 2008, 04:41:14 pm

I noticed that the boo seems very thin.  What thickness did the boo end up?  Really nice bow by the way! ;)

Title: Re: Red Oak and Bamboo
Post by: Don on September 01, 2008, 09:07:26 pm

Dennis.
 I just finished a Maple board bow 27#@25" for my wife.
I backed it with hemp canvas, worked great. I happen to have the hemp on hand.
Don

Title: Re: Red Oak and Bamboo
Post by: kayakfisher on September 01, 2008, 10:00:13 pm

Thanks Don after my son seen Nomadic Pirates bow posted on the forum he liked the looks of the oak and bamboo were going to go for broke.
                                              Dennis

Title: Re: Red Oak and Bamboo
Post by: El Destructo on September 01, 2008, 10:49:12 pm

Dennis....Hey....Manny can pull off Miracles when it come to building Bows....cant He!!!..... As of now....I have two Bamboo Backed Bow....One Maple and one White Oak....and both are doing great....just make sure that you thin the Boo down so that it is paper thin on the Edges of the Limbs....that way it wont be  able to overpower the Oak ....I think you will be just fine..............Go for it!!!!

Title: Re: Red Oak and Bamboo
Post by: kayakfisher on September 02, 2008, 06:44:51 pm

I have made two bows with bamboo backing a Osage and bamboo and a hickory and bamboo were going to give it a shot
                                          Dennis

Title: Re: Red Oak and Bamboo
Post by: wanabehunter on September 02, 2008, 11:12:57 pm

why be afraid of breaking a bow.... if you want to try something do it! If it works out then its Great but if not... youve gotten some good practice in. We've all broken many bows before

Title: Re: Red Oak and Bamboo
Post by: The Burnt Hill Archer on September 03, 2008, 03:35:57 am

i made a redoak/bamboo reflex-deflex about a year ago. i really didnt know what i was doing, and left the bamboo about 1/4" thick. i did trap it, and it did take abunch of set. but it didnt fret anywhere. and its still shooting. id deffinately say you can do it. just use your head.

Phil