Bamboo Back & Belly Reflex Bow ( better full draw pic added as requested)

[dragonman]

Hi Again , heres something a little different, after the ash bows.

Bow Stats;   Bamboo back ( in 2 pieces)
                    Heat tempered bamboo belly,( in 2 pieces)
                    Rock maple core and white oak handle piece. Buffalo horn tip overlays.
                    58 inches ntn. 1 3/8" wide at the fade out.
                    60lbs@27"
                    6" of reflex.  Physical weight only 15oz
                    Including the tip overlays there are 9 seperate pieces glued together in this bow

This is one of the fastest bows I've made so far. Faster and lighter in the hand than boo backed ipe. Its also the lightest bow I have made...so light you can hardly feel a thing when relaeasing the arrow. Very comfortable bow to shoot .
I heat tempered the belly boo, over hot wood coals for 4-5 hrs. This is really what makes the difference with  these bamboo bows. I have made others and not cooked the boo enough and they are much slower and dont keep the reflex. The secret of a good bamboo bow, is how you temper the belly. But I also learned that the older the boo the better it is for the belly, and the fresh boo is best for the back, but you dont want to use fresh boo for the belly
 the full draw pic.is  not the best,  I could take more tomorow if anyone is interested?

Dave

[blackhawk]

That's effing sweet right there.......how much reflex did ya glue in? ...that's gotta be fast with all that reflex and only 15oz mass weight

[dragonman]

thanks Hawk...I glued in 7 inches and it kept 6.  It goes right back to 5" after unstriging, then creeps back to 6" after 1/2 hour...Yeah, I'm well pleased with this one.....I reckon I still could have cooked the belly more and up'd the performance......next time

[diliviu]

Amazing bow, and beautifully crafted!
Very light for these draw weight and draw length.
You can clearly see the speed potential by looking at it.

[Roy]

Very nice, always wanted to try that.

[killir duck]

nice job that bow looks FAST!!!

[Will H]

  Oooo! That looks smokin fast! 

[simson]

very nice work you did here , I#m always wondering how to tiller this kind of bows.
I definitly has to make one  ...

simson

[DavidV]

Wow, that's sweet looking! the braced and unbraced pictures look the same but reversed.

[Lee Slikkers]

Very nice work Dave...one of these is on my "To Do" List but I've not made a bow in a few months now and this is inspiration for me.

Did you grove the core & Boo to mate up?  What did you use for your adhesive?

Thanks

[Zion]

Sweet design! I want another FD!

[dragonman]

thanks guys. Lee I used epoxy and I only lightly grooved the surfaces..not to match up ,just to ensure a good glue up.

[bushboy]

That sir is fantastic,thanks 4 the tip on tempering! Wonder how long it would take with a heat gun to get the same results?

[Dave 55]

Beautiful bow ,I can almost feel it in my hand

[Badly Bent]

Very nice Dragonman. Thats one of those bows that when I see it I want to shoot it. Bet she is smooth and fast, you made her look real nice too. I'm curious to how you tiller with a bamboo belly, I have no experience with laminates or glue ups.
Greg