How do you calculate dimensions?
I've been trying to figure out how to calculate dimensions for a bow of a desired draw length and weight... with the given materials... I have some bamboo flooring I'm thinking of using, but I can't afford horn and I don't know if I could afford sinew... I'm looking to do a all wood or a composite of woods and maybe other woods or fiberglass, idealy it would have a good weight of #50-#65 at 31" but would be able to draw up to 36". depending on which style of draw I use western or eastern respectively. I know with a long bow it's thickest at the handle and tapers/thins out as you reach the tips but with a sayahed bow would the thinnest point be in the middle of the working limb? or just a little to the outside? I've seen afew posts of bamboo "horn" bows but not to much by way of info on how to make them. thank you.
I would start with a low draw weight prototype and work up from there. Or better yet make a kid's bow. Less time and effort but you are still learning.
If you make bow from sinew backed bamboo flooring, you can tiller it exacly like wooden bow. The same goes with sinew-wood-bamboo flooring.
The harder case is if you use real bamboo in belly, because then you can't scrape the belly and expect the bow to work.
I have sinew backed bamboo back and bamboo belly in progress. You'll hear more about how to make one, if i succeed.
NOTE:Bamboo flooring does not work unbacked. It will bend well in tiller tree and fail quickly in use.
The harder case is if you use real bamboo in belly, because then you can't scrape the belly and expect the bow to work.
I have sinew backed bamboo back and bamboo belly in progress. You'll hear more about how to make one, if i succeed.
NOTE:Bamboo flooring does not work unbacked. It will bend well in tiller tree and fail quickly in use.
How do you bend bamboo flooring? Can it be steam / water bent?
Robustus would probably be able to advise very well on bamboo bows.
Robustus would probably be able to advise very well on bamboo bows.
Kerfing and filling with glue an veneer will fork for sure, however this would lead to heavy recurves, because of the low stifness of bamboo flooring.
Using straight limbs and V-splicing reflex at handle and ears is also going to work for sure. Same goes with perry reflex, but I would use wood backed bamboo flooring or bamboo backed bamboo flooring rather that 2 lams of flooring. Adding reflex while sinewing also works for sure.
Boiling and steaming I do not know about. I have though about trying it, but I yet have not and my immersion heater is broken at the moment. It may be dependent of the glues used for making the laminate.
Using straight limbs and V-splicing reflex at handle and ears is also going to work for sure. Same goes with perry reflex, but I would use wood backed bamboo flooring or bamboo backed bamboo flooring rather that 2 lams of flooring. Adding reflex while sinewing also works for sure.
Boiling and steaming I do not know about. I have though about trying it, but I yet have not and my immersion heater is broken at the moment. It may be dependent of the glues used for making the laminate.
I emailed Jim Boswell about fastflex bamboo. He said it shouldn't be heated, boiled, or soaked, but if you introduce reflex in glue up it should stay.
I think fastflex bamboo is similar to flooring, but pre-cut into thin limbs for us!
I think fastflex bamboo is similar to flooring, but pre-cut into thin limbs for us!
Any info on dimensions??? thank you.