Hey there, am so glad I caught your video. Am sourcing info about working with bamboo. Making a skate deck, but as you so rightly pointed out wood glues are mostly water based which will affect wood and the cohesion process. You've saved me from a major blunder, thank you very much!!
Hey Mike, dig you vids very much, thanks for your content! Question how critical is it to get bamboo with equal node spacing? I’m looking to cut my own.
I have used old bike tubes for my glue ups and never had a problem just let it set for 24 hours unwrapped it and let it dry for another 24 and it's fine
Bow length is more related to draw length. Rule of thumb: bend through the handle self bows= bowlength is one half draw length. Static handle bows add 8".
Ah,... I just figured out why your not using a form,.....because your using a board. But did you prepare the bamboo properly? And sand the gluing surface of the bamboo down to the fibers on the bottom,.....and use a toothing plain on both surface's to double the gluing surface and use a glue or an epoxy that fills voids and is compatible to bamboo. And proper handling of bamboo includes putting it in a dry box for at least 3 day's so both pieces of wood are at the same moisture level when they are glued up so they don't de-laminate. I'd use epoxy You could clamp your pieces so the could not move then wrap it as you go. Good job with the reflex part. But I think its good to experiment and do it for your self rather than to puke out industry puke. I'm interested to see if it work's because the industry says it wont work because bamboo is hydroscopic and it will absorb moisture and de-laminate. I wonder if gorilla glue would do better,.. that amber colored stuff it used moisture to penetrate the poor's for a better bond. Put a drop of it on you wife's good plate and put it in the microwave and try to tell me epoxy is better? When that shit dries it pops out a chunk of the plate. As far as wood glue I just use what ever Titebond III or gorilla wood glue. Experiments are knowledge.
Not the fact that it was wrapped as much as how much weight it would add to the limbs. Asiatic horse bows are fully wrapped with thin leather and they perform very well, but that leather is more decorative than functional
when i reflex a bow in that manner i usually use 4" even 6" blocks under the tips then put an extra clamp about where the tip fade, that way the area near the raiser stays straight and the reflex is more aggressive close to the tips , also if you throw the board in the hot shower for 15 min before you glue the backing .. the bow keeps most of the curve better than just by glue/drying alone... lol it works only drawback you have to wait until it dries fully before tillering
You can, but the tape is only useful to strengthen the back of the bow. It doesn't add anything to the belly compression strength and will slow the bow speed.
this particular build was full of mistakes, maybe because I was more worried about filming than I was about what I was doing. anyway, I hope there was something in this mess that helped, thanks for watching!
Hey mike just glued up a stave using this methord. it's another mahoghany bow! except it's got an oak backing. i used drywall tape to wrap mine, one roll of it can probably wrap 6 bows IMO and it's the price of one bandage over here. and the holes in it mean the glue still gets air! very cheap way of doing it.
Great video Mike! Quick question for you: I've been out of the bow-making game for a while since I moved to college, but I'm hoping to get back into it soon. What's your opinion on using bamboo floor slats for a backing? I was browsing a hardwood store the other day and saw they had a bunch of it in 2"x6' and 3"x6' slats, and they seemed about the right thickness.
Very interesting. I might give this approach a try. How did the bow turn out. Did the wood glue do the job? How did that much reflex workout? I'd really like to hear a follow up to this bow. Thanks for all your videos!
I'm sorry but the idea that the glue needs to breath in order to set is wrong. Think about it how much air is getting into the joint? None! By this reasoning the glue inside the would never set once the outer glue has formed a skin. I have used plastic wrap on all my laminated bows (many many ELBs)and have never had a problem. Give it 24-48 hours and I guarantee it will be fully cured in the join with only the trapped runoff still raw. All easily removed and cleaned.
If you have enough C clamps then they work very well. I have some trouble with the C-clamps staying put on the rounded bamboo or rounded belly (if present), which is why I prefer the wrap.
Hello. First time bowmaker here doing research before my first bow. Can the bamboo backing be narrower in width than the board? I.e if you had a 1.5" wide board and a 3/4" or 1" strip of bamboo would that be ok? I suppose at the bows ends it would completely back the board whereas towards the middle the board would only be partially backed. Any thoughts on this? Thanks
Technically in that situation you should sand down the board until the sides are the same on both the bamboo and the board. The problem in this case is that 3/4" to 1" width is, generally speaking, too narrow for bow stability on anything other than a very light children's bow. The narrowest bows are usually made from man made materials, such as carbon fiber or fiberglass, or with extremely dense hardwood like IPE. Even in those cases the bows are usually no less that 1.25" wide at the widest points. I would not recommend partially covering the board with bamboo as the forces acting on the board will not be symmetrical and can lead to bow failure.
It does, but most of the area is covered by the wood and bamboo with the glue only coming into contact in small areas on the sides. Obviously if you overdo it you will need to sand the ACE bandage off the wood/bamboo
First of all, avoiding discomfort from the epoxy is a good idea. The chemicals can absorb into the skin. A little bit of exposure isn't a problem, but large projects or repeat exposure can lead to toxicity - not good for your health. Second, Mr. Brett Smart is trying to be logical without having any experience with the subject. The ace wrap allows sufficient airflow for "curing" of the wood glue. it's actually just a simple evaporation process and occurs just fine as demonstrated. Cellophane does in fact stop the drying process.
Can't wait to see how these turn out.
Hi. Thanks for sharing this. May i ask , should the first coat of glue dry completely before adding the next coat ?
Thanks bud. Saw your video on archery season. Foggy glasses LOL! I saw you let those cows walk. Feral cow is good food :)
Is this an eygyptian style bow? i ask as it's wraped in bandages like the eygyptian Mummys :P LOL
Hey there, am so glad I caught your video. Am sourcing info about working with bamboo. Making a skate deck, but as you so rightly pointed out wood glues are mostly water based which will affect wood and the cohesion process. You've saved me from a major blunder, thank you very much!!
great tutorial mike,
.bill
Say if I were to already have the bow carved out but the woods still green can I still put bamboo on the back? Or do I have to let it dry all the way
Hey Mike, dig you vids very much, thanks for your content! Question how critical is it to get bamboo with equal node spacing? I’m looking to cut my own.
ruclips.net/video/WEjuuqVw-xM/видео.html
He mentions it in this Video
When taking off the ace bandage do I have to scrape it off or can it just be peeled off?
Brian Anuvattanachai it unwraps if you are careful. You can scrape the remainder after
I have used old bike tubes for my glue ups and never had a problem just let it set for 24 hours unwrapped it and let it dry for another 24 and it's fine
Plus the bands can be re used a lot of times the glue cleans off easily
Ya need a shop Apron to keep yourself clean ...Could embroider it with like a BorriorBows logo :)
Bow length is more related to draw length. Rule of thumb: bend through the handle self bows= bowlength is one half draw length. Static handle bows add 8".
What is the brand of glue?
A lâmina de madeira a espessura quanto centímetros
Ah,... I just figured out why your not using a form,.....because your using a board.
But did you prepare the bamboo properly?
And sand the gluing surface of the bamboo down to the fibers on the bottom,.....and use a toothing plain on both surface's to double the gluing surface and use a glue or an epoxy that fills voids and is compatible to bamboo.
And proper handling of bamboo includes putting it in a dry box for at least 3 day's so both pieces of wood are at the same moisture level when they are glued up so they don't de-laminate.
I'd use epoxy
You could clamp your pieces so the could not move then wrap it as you go.
Good job with the reflex part.
But I think its good to experiment and do it for your self rather than to puke out industry puke.
I'm interested to see if it work's because the industry says it wont work because bamboo is hydroscopic and it will absorb moisture and de-laminate.
I wonder if gorilla glue would do better,.. that amber colored stuff it used moisture to penetrate the poor's for a better bond.
Put a drop of it on you wife's good plate and put it in the microwave and try to tell me epoxy is better?
When that shit dries it pops out a chunk of the plate.
As far as wood glue I just use what ever Titebond III or gorilla wood glue.
Experiments are knowledge.
Not the fact that it was wrapped as much as how much weight it would add to the limbs. Asiatic horse bows are fully wrapped with thin leather and they perform very well, but that leather is more decorative than functional
when i reflex a bow in that manner i usually use 4" even 6" blocks under the tips then put an extra clamp about where the tip fade, that way the area near the raiser stays straight and the reflex is more aggressive close to the tips , also if you throw the board in the hot shower for 15 min before you glue the backing .. the bow keeps most of the curve better than just by glue/drying alone... lol it works only drawback you have to wait until it dries fully before tillering
You can, but the tape is only useful to strengthen the back of the bow. It doesn't add anything to the belly compression strength and will slow the bow speed.
is the epoxy better for me if i want to make 150 lbs warbow(laminated)? or i can use wood glue?can i use titebond 3 glue?
I have seen several bowyers make bows from the flooring slats so, in general, it can be done. Beyond that, unfortunately, I don't know.
No follow-up vid? How did it turn out?
this particular build was full of mistakes, maybe because I was more worried about filming than I was about what I was doing. anyway, I hope there was something in this mess that helped, thanks for watching!
Hey mike just glued up a stave using this methord. it's another mahoghany bow! except it's got an oak backing. i used drywall tape to wrap mine, one roll of it can probably wrap 6 bows IMO and it's the price of one bandage over here. and the holes in it mean the glue still gets air! very cheap way of doing it.
Hi. Can you shoe me how to put the sizing coat? Thanks
More like bambooing a glue backed longbow! Ton of glue.
How did it turn out? I'm getting ready to do a bamboo backed hickory.
That's the bamboo backed maple... Maybe.
where do you get your bamboo?..and great videos..thanks
does this method work for applying hardwood backings too?
Great video Mike! Quick question for you: I've been out of the bow-making game for a while since I moved to college, but I'm hoping to get back into it soon. What's your opinion on using bamboo floor slats for a backing? I was browsing a hardwood store the other day and saw they had a bunch of it in 2"x6' and 3"x6' slats, and they seemed about the right thickness.
Very interesting. I might give this approach a try. How did the bow turn out. Did the wood glue do the job? How did that much reflex workout? I'd really like to hear a follow up to this bow. Thanks for all your videos!
Wood glue worked great. Better than the epoxy in my opinion.
I'm sorry but the idea that the glue needs to breath in order to set is wrong. Think about it how much air is getting into the joint? None! By this reasoning the glue inside the would never set once the outer glue has formed a skin. I have used plastic wrap on all my laminated bows (many many ELBs)and have never had a problem. Give it 24-48 hours and I guarantee it will be fully cured in the join with only the trapped runoff still raw. All easily removed and cleaned.
As a lifelong Woodworker, I agree with Brett Smart. No need for exposure to Air with any brand of Titebond.
if you can't think of a design you can always do that ELB bow
What if you simply used a bunch of C-clamps instead of Ace bandage? Wouldn't that allow for a better evaporation?
If you have enough C clamps then they work very well. I have some trouble with the C-clamps staying put on the rounded bamboo or rounded belly (if present), which is why I prefer the wrap.
I like the paper roll to keep the workspace clean. I will have to follow suit. It beats chipping glue off the workbench.
Hi Mike! excellent video, has previously used Titebond 3 for wood laminations? Give good results? Greetings!
do you use bamboo flooring or if you do not would it work?
Mike, you need to get some throw away brushes to spread glue with. :)
Very interesting. So that would slow speed. I gotta research more.
Couldnt you use the fiberglass tape all the way around it?
Can you show us how to make the bamboo backing
Hello. First time bowmaker here doing research before my first bow. Can the bamboo backing be narrower in width than the board? I.e if you had a 1.5" wide board and a 3/4" or 1" strip of bamboo would that be ok? I suppose at the bows ends it would completely back the board whereas towards the middle the board would only be partially backed. Any thoughts on this? Thanks
Technically in that situation you should sand down the board until the sides are the same on both the bamboo and the board. The problem in this case is that 3/4" to 1" width is, generally speaking, too narrow for bow stability on anything other than a very light children's bow. The narrowest bows are usually made from man made materials, such as carbon fiber or fiberglass, or with extremely dense hardwood like IPE. Even in those cases the bows are usually no less that 1.25" wide at the widest points. I would not recommend partially covering the board with bamboo as the forces acting on the board will not be symmetrical and can lead to bow failure.
Everyone says you need groves cut into the stave and the bamboo for good glue up... Not needed?
So true. Thanks.
Thx for the reply and info again mike
mike how much of the reflex stayed in the bow did you let it set for a week before you took G clamps off?
It was dry in 48 hours and kept almost all of the curves :)
Can you reuse the ace bandages
Gotcha cannot reuse the ace
Can I add a Purple Heart lamanite to the back or belly to a maple or oak bow?
TheBYLLU Do to the low elasticity of the PH I’d use it on the belly
Wait the fiberglass and epoxy glue he used in the other video. Bam mega stored energy. The guy is a mad scientist when he makes bows its awesome
Joe Tufts
why dosent the glue stick to the ace bandage
It does, but most of the area is covered by the wood and bamboo with the glue only coming into contact in small areas on the sides. Obviously if you overdo it you will need to sand the ACE bandage off the wood/bamboo
mike can bamboo flooring be use to back a bow?
Yes. Looks for the flooring made from "Moso" Bamboo. Best type of bamboo.
Thx mike
+roy dempster I just watched a vid about a hour ago with a guy that builds and his bamboo models was using flooring
Yer seen that vid its ok but not as good as mike
First of all, avoiding discomfort from the epoxy is a good idea. The chemicals can absorb into the skin. A little bit of exposure isn't a problem, but large projects or repeat exposure can lead to toxicity - not good for your health. Second, Mr. Brett Smart is trying to be logical without having any experience with the subject. The ace wrap allows sufficient airflow for "curing" of the wood glue. it's actually just a simple evaporation process and occurs just fine as demonstrated. Cellophane does in fact stop the drying process.