new member (bamboo question)

[bryan irwin]

new member just to say hello want to build a bamboo and hickory longbow i have some bamboo i cut want to know how long it needs to dry and also want to know about what glue to use and been knapping some hunting points to use this year cant wait to try them out

[Cromm]

Hi Bryan, Welcome to PA. You may want to post this topic in the Bow link also to get the help you may need.

[nugget]

Welcome. Good luck on the bow and the points. I am not sure on the glue, I do not build composite bows, but I have seen guys using URAC

[Justin Snyder]

Welcome to PA. If you split the bamboo is wont take long to dry at all.  As for glue, there are so many options available. You can use an epoxy like URAC or Smooth On. I usually use Smooth On. You can also use a PVA glue, (white glue.) Lots of guys, including myself have used TiteBond 2 or 3 with great results.  Lets see some pictures of those points. Justin

Im moving this to bows since it is a question about making them.  You will get a lot more response there.

[Pat B]

Welcome to PA, Irwin. There are quite a few glues that you can use. The easiest is Tite-Bond (carpenters glue), then Urac 185(excellent wood/wood glue(boo fits in one of those woods) and Smooth-on(needs heat to cure) to name a few. All work fine.
  Depending on where you live and what type of climate you have anywhere from a month to two or so month if the bamboo is split in half lengthwise. What diameter is your boo?     Pat

[Justin Snyder]

Even though Pat and I said almost the exact same thing, I gotta disagree a little. I actually find Titebond more difficult to work with.  Because Titebond shrinks as it dries it gives you a really thin glue line. This means that you have to have a perfect match between your laminations. The epoxies have some gap filling properties allowing a little room for error by the bowyer. I am certainly not saying one is better, but sometimes it is hard to get the laminations perfect.  Justin

[Pat B]

Justin does more glue up than I do so take what he says as gospel. I have used Urac and it is excellent. For me and the few backed bows I do the TB glues work good enough. I've never used Smooth on but those who do, swear by it.  To each his own!

[bryan irwin]

thanks for the help the boo is 4inches across ill will post pics of points just started knapping a few months ago after the north ga.knapp in thanks again

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[Pat B]

Nice knapping Irwin.   Definitely hunting points.

[Justin Snyder]

Really nice points.

Pat, if I know anything about what causes foul ups, it is because I have done it. I can mess up with the best of them.    I do like Titebond, I just find it a little more finicky.

[nugget]

Real nice points for a new knapper.

[Tom Leemans]

You'll get lots of good advice here, but if you want to build some bamboo backed bows, do yourself a favor and get a copy of "Hunting The Bamboo Backed Bow" from Dean Torges, and watch it over and over. You'll get all the info you need there for sure. He covers drying the bamboo.

[Pappy]

Welcome b.irwin Can't help much on the glue up,jsut wanted to welcome you a board.Good luck and nice looking points. 
    Pappy