Is there any way to make a bamboo backed Osage bow from a stave, or are they all made by laminating the bamboo on top of a planed osage board? I understand that both the bamboo and the back of the bow have to be extremely flat to join the surfaces, but am wondering if this can this be done with hand tools after chasing a ring on a stave?
Also if youre making rather sharp reflexes on the bow does the core have to be steamed and bent prior to applying the bamboo backing and should the bamboo be bent to match the core prior to glue-up? I have read that the glue-up will hold a reflex but have never seen many that had sharp curves like many sinew backed bows with the tips flipped.
Thanks