"Asiatic/Modern Bows for Sub-Tropical Countries"
Ever wondered about more practically made asiatic bows?!
For sub-tropical countries the most likely material to be used is Bamboo.
Bamboo is flexible, durable, more likely to have been used in replacement of horns and laminates.
Here's what you need:
A Bamboo Log
(straight, fresh, long inter nodes, 3-6 " in diameter)
Pine Wood
A Belt Sander
Super adhesive/ Epoxy Glue
Slicing materials
(e.g. Knife, Cutter etc.)
What to do:
1). Harvest the bamboo logs, fresh, not too old and not too young, about 2-3 yrs. old. Let it be air-dried for 6 months. Divide the logs into 4 pieces, one node at the center, and equal inter nodes. Be sure they measure just about 3 1/2 ft. to 4 ft. Slice the remaining inside shell using a clever knife and rubber hammer. Start at the ends and it will end at the center, do the same procedure until the remaining inside shell is sliced off, make sure the front of the bamboo bow is flat, after which have it belt sanded. Leave it thick at least half a centimeter evenly through out.
2). Use a piece of lumber pine wood, flat, about an inch thick and 3-4 inches wide and a foot long. Glue the center of one bamboo strip to the piece of pine wood using super adhesive glues/ epoxy. Leave it to dry for some two weeks. After it dries, carve the handle using cutting machine or using some cutting materials, shape it to your own taste. After which sand it, carve an arrow rest. Thin the remaining bamboo to the end of the bow using a cutter of knife, then sand it. Create a knot groove at the tips or attach laminates for better working recurves (only after the recurve is done).
3). Heat one side of the bow from the tip of the handle to the end of the bow using direct heat from a stove. Heat it evenly. After which have it attached to a bow shape, shaped like a letter S. Do the same with the other end. Repeat it evenly until the recurve becomes stiff enough to withstand bow pressure.
4). After creating a knot groove at the end, sand it evenly, apply varning, natural colour, add a leather covering by sewing it at the center. Using to colored nilon ropes, measure it (length of the bow minus 8 "), have it intertwined, add a knot to hang at the end of the bow, and try to pull the bow some 1 hundred pulls to prevent being stressed, then go into practice!
Bow can be from 25 pounds or less (depending on the process) to 35.
Enjoy! See Pictures at the website below.
http://www.friendster.com/viewphotos.ph ... =362043808
For sub-tropical countries the most likely material to be used is Bamboo.
Bamboo is flexible, durable, more likely to have been used in replacement of horns and laminates.
Here's what you need:
A Bamboo Log
(straight, fresh, long inter nodes, 3-6 " in diameter)
Pine Wood
A Belt Sander
Super adhesive/ Epoxy Glue
Slicing materials
(e.g. Knife, Cutter etc.)
What to do:
1). Harvest the bamboo logs, fresh, not too old and not too young, about 2-3 yrs. old. Let it be air-dried for 6 months. Divide the logs into 4 pieces, one node at the center, and equal inter nodes. Be sure they measure just about 3 1/2 ft. to 4 ft. Slice the remaining inside shell using a clever knife and rubber hammer. Start at the ends and it will end at the center, do the same procedure until the remaining inside shell is sliced off, make sure the front of the bamboo bow is flat, after which have it belt sanded. Leave it thick at least half a centimeter evenly through out.
2). Use a piece of lumber pine wood, flat, about an inch thick and 3-4 inches wide and a foot long. Glue the center of one bamboo strip to the piece of pine wood using super adhesive glues/ epoxy. Leave it to dry for some two weeks. After it dries, carve the handle using cutting machine or using some cutting materials, shape it to your own taste. After which sand it, carve an arrow rest. Thin the remaining bamboo to the end of the bow using a cutter of knife, then sand it. Create a knot groove at the tips or attach laminates for better working recurves (only after the recurve is done).
3). Heat one side of the bow from the tip of the handle to the end of the bow using direct heat from a stove. Heat it evenly. After which have it attached to a bow shape, shaped like a letter S. Do the same with the other end. Repeat it evenly until the recurve becomes stiff enough to withstand bow pressure.
4). After creating a knot groove at the end, sand it evenly, apply varning, natural colour, add a leather covering by sewing it at the center. Using to colored nilon ropes, measure it (length of the bow minus 8 "), have it intertwined, add a knot to hang at the end of the bow, and try to pull the bow some 1 hundred pulls to prevent being stressed, then go into practice!
Bow can be from 25 pounds or less (depending on the process) to 35.
Enjoy! See Pictures at the website below.
http://www.friendster.com/viewphotos.ph ... =362043808
And there is yet more easy way to do it:
Take a vertical bamboo flooring.
Saw it in 3 trapedsoid limbs and take 2. Drill holes. Apply bolts. Add string. saw the sides of handle. round corners and handle.
Draw to full draw length. Check poundage. Shorted limbs. Draw to full draw length.
On 1st try it took me 2 hours to complete the bow.
This is slightly similar to bhutanese bow.
Result:
http://www.perinnejousi.fi/keskustelu/f ... n1_201.jpg
Vertical bamboo flooring:
http://www.pikkupuu.com/bambu/img/vertical.gif
... and none of this of course has nothing to do with horn bows ...
Take a vertical bamboo flooring.
Saw it in 3 trapedsoid limbs and take 2. Drill holes. Apply bolts. Add string. saw the sides of handle. round corners and handle.
Draw to full draw length. Check poundage. Shorted limbs. Draw to full draw length.
On 1st try it took me 2 hours to complete the bow.
This is slightly similar to bhutanese bow.
Result:
http://www.perinnejousi.fi/keskustelu/f ... n1_201.jpg
Vertical bamboo flooring:
http://www.pikkupuu.com/bambu/img/vertical.gif
... and none of this of course has nothing to do with horn bows ...