Trad Gang

Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: ty_in_ND on August 03, 2016, 10:05:00 AM

Title: Bamboo as a trilam core
Post by: ty_in_ND on August 03, 2016, 10:05:00 AM

Hey all!

I tried Google searching this topic, but couldn't come up with anything, so I'll ask!  Has anyone tried using a bamboo slat in a wood trilam with any success?  If so, did you do anything else to the lam besides decrowning and/or tapering (like heat treating/carbonizing)?

I have a bunch of bamboo I want to play around with and some of them are thick enough that I should have 3/16" or so after knocking the crown off.

Thanks for your time and info!

Title: Re: Bamboo as a trilam core
Post by: LittleBen on August 03, 2016, 10:52:00 AM

I've never done it, but there's no reason not to except that it will be more work than wood probably because of the decrowning.

It's used in glass bows all the time and a glass bow limb is going to have a lot more shear stress in the core than a wood bow limb.

Title: Re: Bamboo as a trilam core
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on August 03, 2016, 10:57:00 AM

If you want it as a core, Id buy lams used in glassers. Heck with all that prep work. Plus, you know for a fact its flat and ready for glue.

Title: Re: Bamboo as a trilam core
Post by: Bowjunkie on August 03, 2016, 11:50:00 AM

I cut and flatten all of my own lams, so it wouldn't be any more work than any wood lams.... and actually a lot less work than some of what I do for wood lams. I just hate to grind good backing boo up for cores.

Title: Re: Bamboo as a trilam core
Post by: wood carver 2 on August 03, 2016, 01:05:00 PM

I have used it for cores in all bamboo tri lams. It works fine, but in my opinion, those bows don't have the same performance as wood cored bows. Try one and see what you think. They are very nice shooters if you're not worried about speed, and they are silent.
One thing about sawing bamboo for lams. A bandsaw does a better job than a table saw. The table saw blade throws back sharp little pieces and splinters as you cut and the slat can vibrate up and down as you cut.
Dave.

Title: Re: Bamboo as a trilam core
Post by: ty_in_ND on August 09, 2016, 02:16:00 PM

Sorry for the late reply!  Thanks everyone for your input.  Getting them prepped wouldn't be extremely hard for me (between a planer, a jointer, and a bandsaw, I should be able to magage), but it was more of a curiosity than anything else.  

I might yet make one with a bamboo core (or maybe save some for a glass bow!), but it's definitely something I won't be tackling for a while.