"A Very Good Ease For Bending Bamboo"
Last Week I ran out of bamboo logs to use for my bows, so I tried making small bows from internode pieces ranging 12-18". I made a korean shaped bow to be tillered, and it works, I dont really know how the koreans makes effective bows by putting a riser on the back of the bow, which I find traggic to use, I put the on the back of the bow.
For the people who has problems bending bamboo I have a very unique solution to it after I discovered it by making small bows which I know can be effective for 48" bows.
Get one whole log of bamboo, cut the into 4 pieces, scrape the inside shell, and carefully cut evenly the outside shell, leave it about 3/4 of a centimeter thick.
There is one node a the center, put a mark about 8" wide at the center. Scrape that part, Heat it and bend it. Steaming or boiling will only shrink the bamboo. Then attach a bent bamboo piece to match the handle piece.
As I have read Karpowicz says the korean ears are not rigid, but just a little stiffer that the others, so I apply the same method to the handle. Heat the tips and put it on a bow form, repeat until the bent is exact. First you apply it on a wide curve 2 times, then a little smaller curve. Repeating it will stop it from bending. Or you can use a two way press just as the koreans use.
After the long process, re-attach the outside shell of the bamboo to the bow by gluing it using epoxy glue or super adhesives. Super Glues that you get on tubes are useless for bows, but helps reconnect cracks in the bamboo. Tie tightly using ropes during the gluing process as they use on korean bows and yumi bows.
I Hope this technique doesn't bother korean horn bow makers, but it helps! I use it as a replacement of horn.
For the people who has problems bending bamboo I have a very unique solution to it after I discovered it by making small bows which I know can be effective for 48" bows.
Get one whole log of bamboo, cut the into 4 pieces, scrape the inside shell, and carefully cut evenly the outside shell, leave it about 3/4 of a centimeter thick.
There is one node a the center, put a mark about 8" wide at the center. Scrape that part, Heat it and bend it. Steaming or boiling will only shrink the bamboo. Then attach a bent bamboo piece to match the handle piece.
As I have read Karpowicz says the korean ears are not rigid, but just a little stiffer that the others, so I apply the same method to the handle. Heat the tips and put it on a bow form, repeat until the bent is exact. First you apply it on a wide curve 2 times, then a little smaller curve. Repeating it will stop it from bending. Or you can use a two way press just as the koreans use.
After the long process, re-attach the outside shell of the bamboo to the bow by gluing it using epoxy glue or super adhesives. Super Glues that you get on tubes are useless for bows, but helps reconnect cracks in the bamboo. Tie tightly using ropes during the gluing process as they use on korean bows and yumi bows.
I Hope this technique doesn't bother korean horn bow makers, but it helps! I use it as a replacement of horn.
This sounds intresting.
Please post some pictures.
Please post some pictures.