I'm about to start an all bamboo R/D bow.  I understand that a bow like this can be a real screamer, but takes bunches of set.  How wide and how much reflex should I induce at glue up?  Raw boo back, action boo core and belly.  I have two pieces of action boo, so this would be a tri-lam.  Thanks.

Action boo will take a set but will hold up.  It's not as strong in compression as woods like osage, bloodwood and ipe.

I've seen some pretty nice all bamboo layups but all have followed the string some.

MIke

I was mainly wondering what the best limb width would be.  I have building alot of ipe bows lately and they prefer a deeper narrower limb.  If you get to wide the crown on the bamboo back tends to over power any belly.

Like this r/d?


It's 1-3/8" at the fades until midlimb.  Came off the form with 2-1/2" of reflex.  After shooting and unstringing it followed the string by about an inch; after sitting for a bit it was dead even with the handle.

Mike is right; boo is weaker in compression than even red oak.  The amberboo fatigues more than the natural, so if you have a choice go with natural and just stain it later.

I've seen a few that started off with more reflex and kept some of it... those are a pain to tiller  

I'd start with 1 3/8 and might even go as far as 1 1/2.

Mike

Jeremy, how much reflex did your form have?  I'm curious to know how much to glue in.  I would be happy to have it back to square after tillering/shooting in.  Thanks.

My favorite shooter (I alternate this with a Horne Hunter recurve, and a Hoyt Vectrix, but dont tell anyone) is a
Boo back-Boo belly (Tonkin boo) with a hickori core. It is 68" ntn and 1 5/8" at the fadeouts. Straight taper to 1/2" tips.
42# @ 28", I shoot it at 29" i guess, (Right now with uncut Axis 300 spine carbons) it is very fast, cronographed, zero handshock. Boo really can make a sweet bow.
Have made several boo backed bows w/heavy wood belly, some are fast but none as sweet as the one with boo belly.

Anyway, i glued in 3" of reflex, thats the form. So it came out with 2 3/8", and still keeps 1 3/8 of reflex after being shot more than once a week for about 4 years. Probly + 25000 arrows
Id say you can safely put 3" of reflex if it is that long. 5" would be pushing it, 1" ultraconservative.

K