Drying Bamboo for Bow Making

[matnjo]

I want to dry some recently harvested guadua bamboo to cut into 2" wide strips to laminate on the back of a hardwood to make a bow (archery). What is the best way to dry the bamboo and what will work to split it. My stems range from 4-7" diameter.

Thanks

[Mark Meckes]

Hi,
I saw some Guadua at the Fairchild Tropical Gardens when in Miami/2003 and was very impressed with the growth - (must search for the pics I took and post them)
A bow from US/Florida homegrown Guadua! However it turns out, it could be the first domestically grown Guadua backed bow (?)

I'm not familar with the subject of bowmaking, but here's an excerpt from this interesting article:
Bamboo-Backed Bows ( http://www.primitivearcher.com/articles/bamboo.html) - by Greg Harris

Drying Process
"... After thinning the bamboo, I allow it to air dry for several months before I begin to speed dry it in my hot box wood dryer. I'll systematically stack a load of bamboo strips, securing the load to prevent warpage, in the hot box, and set the temperature at 90°-100° fahrenheit. Depending on the bamboo, it may take 14-21 days to bring it down to around 10% moisture content. At this point, I'll take it out and restack it indoors for more air drying. The dryer it gets, the more golden in color. Be aware that different species of bamboo have different shades of color. Also, I am sure to keep my strips pressed flat all along this procedure, so it makes it easier to work with later ..."

BTW, here's some other related threads at the Bamboo Forums

Bamboo arrow making for hunting (http://www.bamboocraft.net/forums/showthread.php?t=1085)

Bamboo Bows - History and Construction (http://www.bamboocraft.net/forums/showthread.php?t=1161)

As far as splitting the Guadua into strips, it's fairly thickwalled stuff,
What's in your tool box? mallet and cleaver?, table saw? jigsaw?

Mark

[matnjo]

Mark, thanks for the reply. I did read the Harris article and still am a bit uncertain as to how to proceed. Harris does not really go into the how-to of drying and splitting. Can I split before it drys or must I wait until completely dry? First and foremost I am concerned with avoiding fungus or bacteria growth that may deteroriate the bamboo. I had a rare opportunity to harvest 8 poles 10' tall. Three are tropical black bamboo and the other 5 are Guadua.
Some articles have said to submerge it in fresh or saltwater for 5 days to "flush out"/kill bacteria growth then to dry vertically in a well ventilated, shaddy place. I spoke with a guy today in Homestead FL (koolbamboo.com) and he indicated that it is not really necessary to submerge it but that they dunk it in kerosene to preserve it.
I made a bow from an areca palm. The palm, also a grass, had similar appearance to bamboo. The areca developed a greenish bacteria or fungi growth I assume from drying too slowly or in too humid of an environment. I don't want this to happen to the bamboo.
I have in my toolbox a hammer and cold chisel, jigsaw, tablesaw and circular saw.
Matt

[Mark Meckes]

Hi Matt, how's your project coming along?

Bamboo is certainly much easier to split into strips and carve away excess materials when it is in a green recently harvested stage, though any finishing should be done when it is thoroughly dried.
Also it is easier to control and ensure even drying of the inner wood when the bamboo has been opened.
Re: soaking the bamboo in water ... this procedure can remove starches in the bamboo making it less palatable to powder post beetles, however it can make the bamboo more brittle, which I don't think would be desirable for your purpose. Experimentation is required.
I have found that once the bamboo has been split / sectioned, exposed to sunlight and air dried for a day, a seal is formed on the exterior surface, and if kept out of rain, dew and dampness, molds and bacteria don't form.
I sometimes apply a flash coat of heat, using a gas torch or electric heat gun to seal and temper the surface.

... however I'm not making bows!
I do believe there is some vague similarities in the principles behind heat tempering and annealing steel, and working with bamboo, as various heat processes can affect the hardness, stiffness and resiliency of the bamboo.

Can you provide any insight to this Thread recently posted? ...
Bending Bamboo for bowmaking (http://www.bamboocraft.net/forums/showthread.php?t=1509)

------------
Re: Areca Palm, alas, it is not in the Grass Family.

See ... Areca Palm (http://www.floridagardener.com/pom/arecapalm.htm) - Chrysalidocarpus lutescens

And there is a palm called ... Bamboo Palm (http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Palm/Chamaedorea_seifrizii.html) - Chamaedorea seifrizii

And then there's Rattan (http://www.rbgkew.org.uk/ksheets/rattan.html) - Genus Calamus, in the Palm Family, which is commonly called cane.

~ Mark