Bamboo arrow making for hunting

[Chetmoo]

I have fresh cut green (GA-Running Bamboo) shoots large and small. How do you straighten green Bamboo to make arrow shafts? Do you heat over flames or coals?

[Mark Meckes]

Hi Chetmoo,
It is possible, to a limited degree to straighten green poles by flexing the piece, gradually working your way up and down the pole until it gets straight.
Another way, as you mentioned is to heat the pole over a fire, or using a gas/propane torch, and bend the piece by hand till it straightens out.

One method, especially useful for slightly larger diameter bamboo, is to use a wooden stick, perhaps about 18 " (50cm) long which has a notch cut into it, the width of the bamboo, making the slot approx a 45 degree angle.
Hold the wooden stick as a lever to bend the piece.

I will make one as a demo one of these days.

There are other ways, for example of bending the bamboo between two upright pegs.

Mark

[Chetmoo]

Thanks Mark, the info will be helpful. I want to craft a bow out of Bamboo. I have a 6 in dia. green, 7 ft long. Would your web site have some directions? Do you know of any locals (NW Georgia) that would possibly have workshops I could contact? Or, could you suggest the best Video or book. I've seen several offered in the making of a bow in general. It's my passion to be able to accomplish Crafting a bow one day. The sooner the better.

[Mark Meckes]

Hi Chetmoo,
See this thread about...
Bamboo Bows - History and Construction (http://www.bamboocraft.net/forums/showthread.php?t=1161)

[Chetmoo]

Thanks Mark, I will let you know how I come out with it.

[Southernman]

Just before finding this forum, while doing a google on Bamboo, I ran across this site (page).

While it takes a lot of manipulation to read through each page (vertical and horizontal scrolling... grrrrr!) it addresses exactly what your looking for.

http://www.bambooarrow.com/arrow.html

Steve

[Mark Meckes]

Thanks for the link, Steve!
Here a link to their hompage... International Bamboo Arrow Society ( http://bambooarrow.com/ )
Purpose:
This society is dedicated to the construction, theory and use of bamboo, cane and reed arrows from around the world. Membership is open to all who are interested.

They also have a Traditional Archery Discussion Group Forums (http://p072.ezboard.com/btraditionalarchery)

See Forum called: Bamboo Arrows (http://p072.ezboard.com/ftraditionalarcheryfrm8)

[Chetmoo]

Thanks guys, I'm researching and planning my craft now. Will post when I have my craft done or as I go along.

[saxofoner]

Is it better to use the whole piece or just cut a 1/3rd (approx.) off the piece so you have a strip, for a bow?
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[Mark Meckes]

You can make a simple bow using a round piece of bamboo but it would break sooner (don't know bow terminology) then a solid bow.

Regards using strips of glue laminated woods ...
A bow maker told me a while back that he likes to use bamboo in combination with another wood species because both had different properties which made for a good bow...

... sorry I can't remember any more details ...

[TribalWind]

wow im gonna have to add this project to my "things to try" list

bamboo arrow site is very informative. and im even more enjoying the site they link to " primitive ways" theres a ton of cool and interesting things on that site

thanks for starting this topic. have you made other bows/arrows before?
would "arrow bamboo" not be the perfect species for arrows? ;) :p

[springbuck]

bamboo is used in "backing" bows, which means placing a thin strip on the convex curve of the bent bow. Bamboo has great strength under the tension forces which are greatest here.

Very hard, compression resisitant wood is used in the "belly" portion, the concave portion of the, bent bow. Bamboo is fine under this stress, but the thinness of the outer wall where all the good stuff is requires more material to take the compression.

Good bows can be made of bamboo flooring, vertically laminated only, backed with a thin strip of good "raw" bamboo.

Visit www.STICKBOW.com if you want to learn more.