heat treating bamboo???
I would like to make a bamboo back and belly bow , with heat treated belly, but I have no idea how to heat treat the bamboo, I understand a heat gun is effective , but could anyone tell me how much heat and for how long, and from what distance the heat should be applied? Or maybe someone knows where I can find this information? I would very much appreciate some help if anyone has the time.
Thanks, David
Thanks, David
Hi dragonman, welcome back,
Use a common heatgun. Don?t heat- treat the back( the bark or skin of the bamboo), heat- treat the belly- side (inside) of the bamboo.
I heat bamboo and wood till it smells or looks like a bit toasted. If you don?t burn it, there is no way to destroy it.
Michael
Use a common heatgun. Don?t heat- treat the back( the bark or skin of the bamboo), heat- treat the belly- side (inside) of the bamboo.
I heat bamboo and wood till it smells or looks like a bit toasted. If you don?t burn it, there is no way to destroy it.
Michael
thanks Redhawk, good to here from you again too. I never heard about toasting the inside of the bamboo, is this the normal way of doing it.? It sounds like a very good idea, much safer, can this be done on the bamboo used for the back of the bow too? I heard normally they only toast the belly bamboo??? I've seen pics of bows where the bamboo is turned quite dark on the belly?
:lol: Its looks like Redhawk have big ucefull experiences vith Bamboo composites... :roll: DONT heat much belly side ! Mostly back must be heated , but - i dont recomendet heatgun. I know - you dont like traditional way/like you wrote/ but - its working . Traditional charcol was better choice. Heatgun working very quckly ...And dont forget.Best bamboo for carving is (like wood) fresh bamboo. And this is problem ...
I know about a lot of techniques heat- treating bamboo. Some bowyers toast the bamboo in an oven, so back and belly are heat- treated.
I prefer to heat- treat the inside of the belly- bamboo only(if you do a boo/boo- composite)., cause I?ve experienced some breakings when toasting the outside of the bamboo too.
It?s very important that the bamboo is really dry, before heat- treating it.
Otherwise it could split lengthwise.
If you?ve never done it before, cut a sample of bamboo and do some experience.
Michael
I prefer to heat- treat the inside of the belly- bamboo only(if you do a boo/boo- composite)., cause I?ve experienced some breakings when toasting the outside of the bamboo too.
It?s very important that the bamboo is really dry, before heat- treating it.
Otherwise it could split lengthwise.
If you?ve never done it before, cut a sample of bamboo and do some experience.
Michael