Hi guys
Just a quickie 1 hour DIY project.
My Son wanted to practice target shooting with a bow and arrow. He was interested and had grown enough to handle a sizeable bow. I was also still curious about the potential of bamboo, after having a bamboo bow as a kid.
So at a garden centre we selected a couple of 5-6' straight canes well seasoned with no obvious faults and I also selected two more of the shorter type (thinner than the two main staves). At this stage you can tiller each of the long staves and watch for a nice even bend throughout and also the canes which have a greater resistance to bending.
Avoid any which develop irregularities under tension.
Method is fairly easy:
1. Tape the main staves together back to back so each end of the bow has one thick plus one thin end.
I taped aprox 18" in the middle then at three places for each limb 6-8" of tape.
(Avoid electrical tape. Tends to undo over time.)
2. Now adjust the length of the two shorter canes so they extend into the limbs.
These will go on the inside and will be under compression when the bow bends.
3. Tape together and fix temporarily to the inside of the bow.
4. Next tiller the bow and test the shape.
5. Adjust the shorter pair length so they allow enough flexibility to the main limbs yet still providing strong compression. You will need to experiment a bit here.
6. Tape the compression staves into place and wrap the middle of the bow with cord for aprox 10-12". (Makes a good grip and strengthens the bow).
7. Choose a bow string of the right width to fit a standard arrow notch. (Helps to already have an arrow.)
I just used white nylon picture cord which comes in various widths, but you could buy a bowstring.
8. Make a notch at each end of the bow on the front face (not too deep) aprox 1.5" in. Wrap a little tape into the notch (stops the bowstring fraying)
9. Make a loop in your string and fit one end. Tiller the bow a little and guage where your next loop needs to be.
(Don't cut to length yet - this will be a process of adjusting the length)
10. Finally aim for a gap of 9-10" between string and bow when strung. Stick a layer of tape around the string where the arrow notches (stops string fraying) and the bow is complete.
A note on stringing the bow and early usage. Wood needs time to get used to the stresses of bending. Take your time when initially stringing to gradually ease the bow to the right degree of bend (try using your knee).
Also avoid pulling back to the full length of the arrow. Start half way and very gradually work up to a full draw watching for irregularities in shape on the limbs that could indicate an impending break.
AFTER SHOOTING ALWAYS DESTRING THE BOW. DON'T LEAVE IT STRUNG FOR LONG PERIODS.
I won't go into arrow making. A project in itself. I bought a mix of alloy and wooden ones.
Final comment. I totally underestimated the potential of this $5 bow (remember I did not choose the stoutest canes in the first place because it was meant for a 13 year old boy). That said the bow would take a deer at 20 yards no problem with the right arrow. On a long shot the arrow dissapeared into the sky and landed 200 yards away at a guess. Not bad for a $5 bow! Be prepared to loose expensive arrows!
As to the longevity of bamboo, I was expecting only a short life. - 8 years later the bow still shoots fine as long as you keep it dry in a shed.
Just a quickie 1 hour DIY project.
My Son wanted to practice target shooting with a bow and arrow. He was interested and had grown enough to handle a sizeable bow. I was also still curious about the potential of bamboo, after having a bamboo bow as a kid.
So at a garden centre we selected a couple of 5-6' straight canes well seasoned with no obvious faults and I also selected two more of the shorter type (thinner than the two main staves). At this stage you can tiller each of the long staves and watch for a nice even bend throughout and also the canes which have a greater resistance to bending.
Avoid any which develop irregularities under tension.
Method is fairly easy:
1. Tape the main staves together back to back so each end of the bow has one thick plus one thin end.
I taped aprox 18" in the middle then at three places for each limb 6-8" of tape.
(Avoid electrical tape. Tends to undo over time.)
2. Now adjust the length of the two shorter canes so they extend into the limbs.
These will go on the inside and will be under compression when the bow bends.
3. Tape together and fix temporarily to the inside of the bow.
4. Next tiller the bow and test the shape.
5. Adjust the shorter pair length so they allow enough flexibility to the main limbs yet still providing strong compression. You will need to experiment a bit here.
6. Tape the compression staves into place and wrap the middle of the bow with cord for aprox 10-12". (Makes a good grip and strengthens the bow).
7. Choose a bow string of the right width to fit a standard arrow notch. (Helps to already have an arrow.)
I just used white nylon picture cord which comes in various widths, but you could buy a bowstring.
8. Make a notch at each end of the bow on the front face (not too deep) aprox 1.5" in. Wrap a little tape into the notch (stops the bowstring fraying)
9. Make a loop in your string and fit one end. Tiller the bow a little and guage where your next loop needs to be.
(Don't cut to length yet - this will be a process of adjusting the length)
10. Finally aim for a gap of 9-10" between string and bow when strung. Stick a layer of tape around the string where the arrow notches (stops string fraying) and the bow is complete.
A note on stringing the bow and early usage. Wood needs time to get used to the stresses of bending. Take your time when initially stringing to gradually ease the bow to the right degree of bend (try using your knee).
Also avoid pulling back to the full length of the arrow. Start half way and very gradually work up to a full draw watching for irregularities in shape on the limbs that could indicate an impending break.
AFTER SHOOTING ALWAYS DESTRING THE BOW. DON'T LEAVE IT STRUNG FOR LONG PERIODS.
I won't go into arrow making. A project in itself. I bought a mix of alloy and wooden ones.
Final comment. I totally underestimated the potential of this $5 bow (remember I did not choose the stoutest canes in the first place because it was meant for a 13 year old boy). That said the bow would take a deer at 20 yards no problem with the right arrow. On a long shot the arrow dissapeared into the sky and landed 200 yards away at a guess. Not bad for a $5 bow! Be prepared to loose expensive arrows!
As to the longevity of bamboo, I was expecting only a short life. - 8 years later the bow still shoots fine as long as you keep it dry in a shed.
(just my own opinion) be interested in others views tho, (no arguing and nastiness obviously)
