Primitive Archer

Very interesting build.  Will be curious to see how the draw weight increases with the boo strip.   I’m always surprised how little bamboo it takes to increase draw weight.  Cool project

BJ tell me that the idea of the birch bark canoe is still buzzing around in your head! I'm counting on it 

Yes, one internode is a “bamboo tube” between the nodes. In this bow, the backing is one solid strip (two internodes).

Springforelle also sells those “2 internodes,” which are longer bamboo culms with a node in the middle. Unfortunately, the current “2 internodes” are relatively short (maximum about 66 inches), so if you want a long loo-backing strip, you have to order “single internode” pieces and splice the strips together.

When Springforelle started selling loo bamboo, I was one of the first buyers and placed a special order for very long “2 internodes.” The longest loo culm I have is just under two meters long and has only one node in the middle!

Yes, it’s expensive, but it’s very high quality and intended for bamboo fly rods. It’s a one-man company and possibly the only place where you can get it easily.

Please note that when you click "Bamboo" → "Loo single internode", you must first select a country (shipping is included), then choose the length. The last selectable option is "Loo", where you can choose between "2 internodes", "8 internodes", and "15 internodes". These options indicate how many pieces of single internodes you want to order. The minimum quantity is "2 internodes", which means two pieces.

From one internode, you can get four strips, which is enough backing for two bows. So for 115 EUR, you get backing for four bows, which is still reasonable.

Awesome thanks for the clarification brother. 

Very glad I left those siyahs wide, the groves I cut weren’t completely in line so it kicked the siyah off a degree or two. Will just rough up with a hacksaw in the future I think.

Gave it a very light tiller to feel like a 35ish lb bow and so I could get the reflex a nicer curve
Lightly (hacksaw) grooved the back of the bow but not the bamboo. Bamboo was too thin at the edges and I was only going to damage it.

Got it glued up!

I’m going to trim the siyahs stil but the longer they are the easier it is to check alignment. I’ve not glued a bow this thin before and I think there is potential the wraps have caused some twist but not 100% sure. Still plenty of width to play with at the tip.

Clamp in the middle to hold the bamboo to the rest of it, self adhesive bandage to get the bamboo bending in the curve. Wrap with inner tube from handle to tip removing the. Bandage when I get there and then wrap back down over the curve to get it good and tight. Clamped the limbs down to give them some reflex that I expect to loose in the tillering. I hate that flaccid look of set in an unbraced bow. I’m be happy if these limbs end up straight. It’s hard to tell how even the curve is with the wraps on. I hope it’s not angular where the clamps are

Very nice work Tuomo and good information to. Profiles look great

Bjrogg