Bamboo Limbs???

thebailman · 11-19-2002, 05:09 PM

I am wondering what the advantages to using bamboo-tonkin cored limbs are? I have been told by a couple peopel to get them, but haven't really got any reasons as to why? Hoping for some answers. Thanks again-

LBR · 11-19-2002, 05:41 PM

Some people, including some well known, well respected bowyers, feel that bamboo limbs improve the performance of their bows. I have talked to others that saw no improvement, and some that won't use it because of its durability (or lack of it). I prefer yew myself. Talk to your bowyer and see what he reccomends, and what kind of warranty you will be getting.

Chad

Long Bows Rule!

john nail · 11-20-2002, 02:35 AM

I think bamboo is an advantage on a recurve. not so much on a longbow. I've found that on a longbow, black locust core with yew lams makes the best shooting bow.

Your life is made of time, not money.

Mike Ballenger · 12-11-2002, 08:28 PM

Bamboo glues up great, it's easy to dry, grinds easily into good smooth laminations. Takes a nice stain and it's light weight which translates into less hand shock. It recovers quickly and I've never had a Bamboo failure on any of my bows. The bamboo should only have the rind ground off, leaving all the power fibers possible. The failures you have heard about come from a lamination that is mostly pith. Beware the Bamboo Actionwood for this very same reason.

LBR · 12-11-2002, 09:31 PM

Mike, great to have you back! I hope to get a chance to shoot one of your longbows--hear they are really nice (but your price on a recurve is a bit salty! lol )

I won't argue the point about bamboo, because I am by no stretch of the imagination a bowyer--I just like to pick their brains--lol. I would like to say that one of the bows I heard about "going bad" with bamboo limbs was a very well known bow/bowyer, and one that is renowned for using bamboo in his limbs. On the other hand, I believe this particular bow was around 10 years old when it happened, so it is feasible that it could have happened with any limb material.

What you said about the pith makes a lot of sense--I'd never thought about that. In your design, do you think bamboo is the top limb "wood"? What are your thoughts on yew? walnut? others?

Chad

Long Bows Rule!

Lilhunter · 12-12-2002, 04:12 AM

Mark,

I do have a question for you. I had heard (ya ya from the rumor mill), that bamboo, specifically BBO bows, cant handle the severe cold? (severe being below freezing, or more specifically below 0 for more then a few days to a week or two) Any truth to this? How about an all wood laminate bow with Boo lams? I am curious as I have a bbo being made as we speak and will definatly put it through the trail test. Ie, beat it up and down a mountian, in nothing short of a monsoon of minus degree weather, torentail rain, sleet, and snow, then turn around and bake it on a 90 degree summer day at the range for..oh...more time then my wife cares to admit I spend there <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

Thanks!

CT Bowhunter · 12-12-2002, 06:51 AM

Mike,

I'm also curious as to what other woods you think make good limbs. I know everyone has their own opinions and preferences. Some say black locust is great, others too heavy, walnut is great, or just okay. I'm talking longbows.

Mike Ballenger · 12-12-2002, 06:24 PM

What I'm about to say is bad new for those looking for a "Magic" wood. I've tried just about everything but the top ten woods all perform just about the same. The heavier woods are a bit slower and best used in a shorter bow. Bamboo, Yew, Red Elm, Black Walnut, Cedar all work well in any length on a glass backed Longbow. Haven't really used the Black or Honey Locust as much as I'd like. Nor have I actually worked a bow in sub zero weather but have sold quite a number into areas where the bows will get a below zero workout and have not any returned. (I think you have to worry more about the finish than wood) My two personal bows are (short)Yew with a Bamboo core and (Long)Bamboo with a Yew core. Anybody out there with limbs of Chatke-Kok?? Snakewood???

LBR · 12-12-2002, 09:53 PM

Thanks Mike--I agree that, at least in my experience, there are no "magic" limb woods, although some seem to be a little different than others as far as speed and smoothness goes. I am sure design has a part to play in this also. The reason I asked is because some bowyers seem to be very partial to one limb material or the other, and I was wondering what you thought about it. I don't recall shooting a bow with either of the two woods you listed--if I did, they weren't good enough (or bad enough) for me to remember it.

Chad

Long Bows Rule!

Mike Ballenger · 12-13-2002, 06:28 PM

I'm going to be a bit skeptical here. Have you ever known a bowyer to
prefer a wood he couldn't obtain. A wood that's in short supply. I know my preferences changed the day I found the worlds best Zebrawood. It changed when I found a dependable supply of Tonkin Bamboo cut from the bottom of the "grass". I love Black Walnut but don't use it as a back or belly because dark woods show any unsightly spots when gluing. Yew has got to be an all time favorite but it's difficult and/or expensive to obtain in dependable quality so most bowyers don't talk about it all that much. It's hard to beat a plain old Maple lamination, in fact it's probably one of the best woods available but customers don't want a Plain Jane Maple bow so it's not the favorite of any Bowyer. Red Elm and Locust made it into the top of most bowyer's list not because it's better than Maple but it's beautiful, cheap, glues well and supplies are dependable and consistant. Actionwood sounds a bit more exotic and many companies like it, not because it's better than just plain Maple but it sells better. Even when it's often made from Maple laminations that didn't make grade and glued up with with sub-standard or furniture grade glues. Oh well, sorry to rant, just venting a few of my pet peeves.