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

[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.

[Nguyennam2006]

thanks for the tip, but am i doing something wrong. when i go to huntworthyproducts youtube channel or website, there is only info about commercial items. can you please tell me where they have bow making videos or articles

[Pat B]

I don't know if James has bow building videos. Contact him personally and I'm sure he will help you out.

[Mafort]

so i used hackberry for my core. i did a one piece core because hackberry bends like a wet noodle when its steamed. hackberry works similarly to ash wood and i would say it should work. i would give it every advantage in the book to work though. grooving the horn and belly, multiple coats of thin glue over the horn and wood core over several days. keeping the core and horn as oil free as possible by wearing gloves and trying to keep things sterile. as for the bamboo backing i have not the slightest clue. my thoughts would be to reduce the reflex and recurve of the bow so you dont over strain the bamboo backing and blow it up then again i have no idea what limits that can handle. sinew is traditionally used due to its tensile strength and ability to stretch further than wood. i heat treated my core several times to ensure it was as strong as can be and ready to go.