Scored some rattan

[JW_Halverson]

I scored three sticks of rattan 8 ft long. I've seen some pretty cool bows made from this years back. It seems to have fallen out of favor in the last 12-15 years.

Anyone have any recent experience with rattan bows?

[bjrogg]

I remember reading about it in the past but I honestly don’t even know what it is.

Will be watching 

Bjrogg

[Bob Barnes]

There have been hundreds of kids bows made out of Rattan at both MoJam and OJam.  It must be possible to make adult bows as well.  A quick search found someone that sells them... good luck.
http://archery-beier.com/products/bows/strongbows-rattanbows/

[Eric Krewson]

I am pretty sure they tillered them backwards at MoJam, the flat side where the rattan was split became the back and the natural round side became the belly, they tillered the back on a belt sander when they made them for the kids.

[bassman211]

Rattan is a climbing vine like palm. When it gets to 2 to 3 inches in diameter it is cleaned ,dried, and harvested in 10 to 13  feet poles. Grows in Asia, Africa, and Australia. Looks much like bamboo, and popular for furniture making. Yes Asian people make bows from there special bamboo from that part of the world, and is made reverse of how we use bamboo. The handle is crossed  over, and pinned with a nail. Archery is a very popular sport in that part of the world.

[Bob Barnes]

I am pretty sure they tillered them backwards at MoJam, the flat side where the rattan was split became the back and the natural round side became the belly, they tillered the back on a belt sander when they made them for the kids.

You're right Eric.  They were made with a bandsaw and a belt sander, and it only took a short time to build one.  Dean's instructions are still online.  http://www.bowyersedge.com/kidsbows.html

[bjrogg]

Rattan is a climbing vine like palm. When it gets to 2 to 3 inches in diameter it is cleaned ,dried, and harvested in 10 to 13  feet poles. Grows in Asia, Africa, and Australia. Looks much like bamboo, and popular for furniture making. Yes Asian people make bows from there special bamboo from that part of the world, and is made reverse of how we use bamboo. The handle is crossed  over, and pinned with a nail. Archery is a very popular sport in that part of the world.

Thanks Bassman. I was wondering

Bjrogg

[bassman211]

Bjrogg..... I was curios to, so I did some research.  I knew about the Butanese people making bows with there unique bamboo. I watched them shoot them on utube, and there is an outfit selling rattan bows on the net also. One man was shooting an Asian horse bow made from it. He complained about it being hard to pull, and slow shooting compared to glass bows. I watched another man do a step by step build along using rattan as bow wood. The bow turned out nice, but I can't speak to how hard it pulled, or how fast it is. You can buy rattan on ebay that have different diameters, and different lengths. Some suitable for bow making that come 7 feet long.

[TimBo]

I made our kids some of the Torges-style reverse tillered bows, and they were great.  I'm sure I have seen a heavier weight one somewhere.

[Aaron1726]

Always wanted to try rattan after seeing this guys super short recurve build:
https://youtu.be/r9SILXwlKU8?si=aoDa06HWxths-SKm