Hello Kramer, you can improve the snappyness and set resistance of a bamboo bow by building the limbs with the outer skin of the bamboo as the belly. the outer skin is compressive resistant, while the inner fibers are tension resistant. we build our traditional bow that way, using giant bamboo.
Hi Kramer, thanks a lot for sharing your experiments and expertise with us. Just a suggestion for another try on bamboo: taper down bamboo slats and have the tough surface outside for back and belly. Like the Japaneese Yumi bows have. For more poundage put a tapered middle lamination in between. Again thanks for the fun content and please keep on with experiments.
Hey krammer, I love your vids, I’m 14 and I love your videos you and another TH-cam channel (hunt primitive) have inspired me to make my own bows, and I’ve made some really nice ones
Awesome video, yepp you gotta heat harden the belly boo and keep as much of the exterior "shell" on the belly as well bamboo is typically hardest on its exterior. Some Yumis even stack bamboo vertically for the cores. Thanks again for sharing.
Ok..ok..ok... Kramer my friend...everyone thinks that the best wood to make a bow is Yew but that's not true. I ordered strings (2) for my bow from you 👍...and I'm very happy with them. Maybe you don't remember me. 45lbs at 28 inches for a 44 inch bow I tell you my secret... because many people ask me what it is made of... and I dont tell us, but you..yes because you are honest in your business... "if" and I say "if" you can find a straight piece of lilac 👌(3inch Dia) tests you will see... the Yew is not the best wood of bow... A friend from Quebec 👍 (sorry for the mistakes) You know I use a translator :)
I had a bow made for my son 15 years ago, it was all bamboo. The bowyer used epoxy glue and left the bamboo's outer layer on it, as you had for the back, it did not take very much set at all. Maybe have another go trying that with a tapered core lam. Just a thought. Great videos too.
@@NicoHogenes I am planning on making one over the next couple of months while our archery club is off for summer, I am in Australia. I have not made a bow for a few years, might be time for a new one.
English long bow. Ash back, purple heart core, hickory belly. 72in long, 31in draw @ 55lbs. 3 years layer... 47lb. And I think that's purely down to set over 3 years of regular use, 200 arrows a month.
Kramer, I love your channel! Keep it up! I'd love to see you build a horn bow or something with all-natural materials that clocks 180+. You're always pushing the limits and inspiring others who want to be bowyers themselves. Thanks again for everything, God bless you and your family.
i'd love to see you do shortbows. small snappy bows that do like 40+lb draw. i saw a guy make some but hey where very crude. id love to see them in your style
i have a wood shop and do custom woodworking. ive never made a bow before but your channel has inspired me to try it out. i obviously dont expect to make anything fantastic but if i can make one that even able to shoot an arrow ill be happy haha. i like the idea of having a bow i built myself.
What if you used the outside of the bamboo on the back as well? I believe its compressive yeld strenght is higher then the inside. Dunno how it will react with the tillering, maybe you can tiller it from the sides instead of from the back
Kramer: "The tip overlays are missing, Kaz must have thrown them away. I'll look around for 20 minutes, its more important than Kaz's wedding ring.. Also Kramer: "The whole bow just broke. I'll just make a new one" Kaz: "check out these boots.."
Cool build. Would love to see other, non-traditional, woods in bows like say Russian Olive or Tree of Heaven or Tamarisk. Invasive "trash" trees and the like. Is one person's trash tree a bow maker's treasure?
Eu não entendo realmente o porquê de poucas curtidas, se tem tantas visualizações. Poxa galera, curte o trampo do cara, mó dahora. Parabéns, quero em breve fazer meu próprio arco, estou aprendendo bastante
I think if you could work on your handle design you'd have one really nice looking bows, they always seem to look blocky. Not hating I watch every video you upload, just something I noticed
Bro, been subscribed for a while. Don’t wear dangling hoodie strings around machinery like that. Just saying because I care. Cut them strings out of the hoodie
Hi Kramer, I was wondering where you get your bamboo from. I am trying to make a reflex deflex bamboo bow but I cannot find out where to buy bamboo. Thanks in advance!
Hi Braden, if you are in the US, 3RiversArchery will be a good source. Sometimes GardenCenters and DIY stores have bamboo poles and slats for construction and decorations. Good luck!
Yeah, I didn't think wood glue would be good for making bows because of how hard and stiff wood glue gets and because it tends to crack when you try to pry it off of wood after it dries. Any time I glued two pieces of wood together with wood glue, the glue wouldn't have any spring to it. Also check out the all-bamboo bow-building TH-cam video that does not use glue on the Holy Maker TH-cam channel. The video is called The Process of Making the World's Best Bamboo Bow. Bamboo Bow Craftsmen in South Korea.
There is a clear reason why the simple bamboo bow lost so much draw weight, the thing has terrible tiller and all the stress is in the middle third of the bow, no natural material bow can hold it's dw with such terrible tiller. And btw, the tiller on that new bow made on this video is also mostly working in the inner thirds of the limbs. That's a location where you really don't want to have the most bend, because it's the least efficient location for energy transfer cus it's the furthest away from the string and any set that happens there has more impact to the over all string follow of the bow, cus it has the longest distance to affect, like half an inch set in the inner limb moves the limb tips back much more than that half an inch.
In addition to the poor tiller, the added reflex actually increases the amount of set on materials with poor compression capability cus it increases the amount the limb has to bend and thus increases the amount of compression. To make a bow with minimal set from a compression weak material, make it wide, long and most importantly without reflex! And trapping the back doesn't harm either (meaning the back is narrower than the belly, therefore the back strains the belly less and the belly has more compression surface). Actually some areas the tribal people purposely make their bows deflex, cus of the poor material. They know that deflex reduces the speed, but it also reduces the stress, and thus the bow will hold it's poundage for longer and has less chance to break.
I have two important questions, 1) when you were making your bow/bow limbs, what brand of Epoxy adhesive did you use? 2) How to choose which brand of Epoxy adhesive should be used?
It is obvious, that you did not do any research or spent the least of a thought on how to use bamboo for a bow. It is weed, a straw or a cane. So, the strongest fibres are naturally located in it's outer surface. If you wanna avoid set you need to use the outside of the cane for the belly aswell. Just as if it were carbon or fiberglass. Same with bamboo arrow shafts. You don't cut stripes and grind them , 'cause they will easilly bend. You will always use thin whole canes.
Hi Robert, moisture is bad for many bow making materials. As Japanese bowmakers use bamboo exclusively for hundreds of years, there will be a way to make it work. One answer is to have the bamboo surface on back and belly, the other is heat threatment. A third might be careful storage of the finished bows. Greetings from another bow maker.
So you really think that people has the toys ( gadgets ) that you have .. dude I was expecting like a home made with simple tolls.. you have a machine shop at your house ..
You need to bake the bamboo for the belly. Right to chocolate brown. This increases compression strength by a ton and hugely decreases stringfollow.
Idk about that…… you don’t want to scorch it
Hello Kramer, you can improve the snappyness and set resistance of a bamboo bow by building the limbs with the outer skin of the bamboo as the belly. the outer skin is compressive resistant, while the inner fibers are tension resistant. we build our traditional bow that way, using giant bamboo.
Hi Kramer, thanks a lot for sharing your experiments and expertise with us. Just a suggestion for another try on bamboo: taper down bamboo slats and have the tough surface outside for back and belly. Like the Japaneese Yumi bows have. For more poundage put a tapered middle lamination in between.
Again thanks for the fun content and please keep on with experiments.
Hey krammer, I love your vids, I’m 14 and I love your videos you and another TH-cam channel (hunt primitive) have inspired me to make my own bows, and I’ve made some really nice ones
That is awesome!
What about bamboo floor boards? With vertical grain?
Awesome video,
yepp you gotta heat harden the belly boo and keep as much of the exterior "shell" on the belly as well bamboo is typically hardest on its exterior. Some Yumis even stack bamboo vertically for the cores.
Thanks again for sharing.
Most do all had the interior stacked laminate, there are several methods and stack combo.
Ok..ok..ok...
Kramer my friend...everyone thinks that the best wood to make a bow is Yew
but that's not true.
I ordered strings (2) for my bow from you 👍...and I'm very happy with them. Maybe you don't remember me.
45lbs at 28 inches for a 44 inch bow
I tell you my secret... because many people ask me what it is made of...
and I dont tell us, but you..yes because you are honest
in your business...
"if" and I say "if" you can find a straight piece of lilac 👌(3inch Dia)
tests you will see... the Yew is not the best wood of bow...
A friend from Quebec 👍
(sorry for the mistakes)
You know I use a translator :)
Hi FMK, you are right with lilac and exactly, there is a big „if“. This wood is seldom found in bow-use condition.
Give serviceberry a try - amazing…
Did you try matured bamboo?? That’s amazingly strong
Very fun show to take in. There is something to be said about enjoying your time, life and skill. Your show knocked it out of the park.
Is it possible to test rattan bow next?
I had a bow made for my son 15 years ago, it was all bamboo. The bowyer used epoxy glue and left the bamboo's outer layer on it, as you had for the back, it did not take very much set at all. Maybe have another go trying that with a tapered core lam. Just a thought. Great videos too.
You’re absolutely right sir, that is the right way to make a all bamboo bow.
@@NicoHogenes I am planning on making one over the next couple of months while our archery club is off for summer, I am in Australia. I have not made a bow for a few years, might be time for a new one.
@@ronaldwoodhouse7262 it’s always time for a new bow! 😀
@@NicoHogenes yes and I don't have enough bows, I only have 20 odd, LOL
@@ronaldwoodhouse7262
Iike, is it ever enough? For me..nope 😂 need at least one for every day of the month
You don't need all the clamps if you use the Japanese Yuki bamboo method, love to see you try it
No you just need a giant box of wedges. Seriously for making the style bows he makes, clamps are easier.
English long bow. Ash back, purple heart core, hickory belly. 72in long, 31in draw @ 55lbs. 3 years layer... 47lb. And I think that's purely down to set over 3 years of regular use, 200 arrows a month.
Kramer, I love your channel! Keep it up! I'd love to see you build a horn bow or something with all-natural materials that clocks 180+. You're always pushing the limits and inspiring others who want to be bowyers themselves. Thanks again for everything, God bless you and your family.
Bamboo is so cool😊
Where do you get bamboo slats large enough to make a bow from?
Amazon has some but you often have to buy in bulk, three rivers also sales them.
great job on the bamboo bow Kramer
Great video! Well explain why bamboo or not why❤
i'd love to see you do shortbows. small snappy bows that do like 40+lb draw. i saw a guy make some but hey where very crude. id love to see them in your style
Cool stuff! 😀
i have a wood shop and do custom woodworking. ive never made a bow before but your channel has inspired me to try it out. i obviously dont expect to make anything fantastic but if i can make one that even able to shoot an arrow ill be happy haha. i like the idea of having a bow i built myself.
If you can find a slab of osage you can make a functional bow pretty easily. Give it a try, it's a blast
Good bow brother.
Excellent video very interesting 🤔
What if you used the outside of the bamboo on the back as well? I believe its compressive yeld strenght is higher then the inside. Dunno how it will react with the tillering, maybe you can tiller it from the sides instead of from the back
Love your content. What's the best backing for an Ironwood bow?
U should do will it bow video from plywood!
>make plain bamboo bow
>makes it too short and narrow for the expected draw length
>adds reflex
>does not heat treat
>expects it to last long
Kramer: "The tip overlays are missing, Kaz must have thrown them away. I'll look around for 20 minutes, its more important than Kaz's wedding ring..
Also Kramer: "The whole bow just broke. I'll just make a new one"
Kaz: "check out these boots.."
3:54 well at least we know that ruler will NOT bow XD
Is a plexyglass core possible?
Was the delaminated bow glued with E40 ? I doubt it .
Is there a way to treat your bow (bend it back) to where it'd have more poundage after a few years of shooting it?
Love ya bro! Try fire treating the bamboo. That's what we do here in Japan to keep the bow in shape.
Is titebond enough for a bow?
Absolutely. I use it all the time.
Cool build. Would love to see other, non-traditional, woods in bows like say Russian Olive or Tree of Heaven or Tamarisk. Invasive "trash" trees and the like. Is one person's trash tree a bow maker's treasure?
When I saw the thumbnail I misread and thought it said 100% Rambo bow. Maby your next project? 😁
Very good info bro thxxxxx😊👌
Eu não entendo realmente o porquê de poucas curtidas, se tem tantas visualizações. Poxa galera, curte o trampo do cara, mó dahora. Parabéns, quero em breve fazer meu próprio arco, estou aprendendo bastante
Awesome knowledge given. Thanks for sharing.
You should remove your hoodie strings when using power tools. Wouldn't want them to get pulled in.
Nice!
Bro but bamboo becomes tough after it dryout so how to prevent it .
I think bow will not work when bamboo dry
Please guide me.
Scorched bamboo is better than raw bamboo under compression. For the detail, check how to make Japanese bow. Some people have uploaded videos on it.
Hey had a thought about this last night maybe try some graphene powder to dye the glue and it might make the bow stronger.
Can you try making a bamboo bow like the Black Hunter recurved bow?
will it bow ski's ?
I think if you could work on your handle design you'd have one really nice looking bows, they always seem to look blocky. Not hating I watch every video you upload, just something I noticed
What is that tribal background score? So good!
Clamps are to Bowmaking, as Cowbell is to " The Reaper" by Blue Öyster Cult.
The japanese have been successfully building bows successfully from all bamboo for hundreds of years
You look like Karl Pilkington in the thumbnail of this video. 😅
Make ambidextrous risers on a bow 🏹 for right and left shooting 🏹
Of course diy, we all have a big ass sander don't we? XD
It's that the sane popler bow you made like a year ago?
Yes about 2-3 years ago:)
@@kramerammonsarchery Cool I'm working on one now👍
How well, "Will it bow?"
Bamboo is technically a grass. It also grows incredibly fast.
Why are you using wood glue? Why not ea40? I like your videos, you have a good personality. Making it fun.
Can we build one out of teak? I have access to a whole country of teak lol 😂
Your bow arms need to gradually thicken towards the grip to maintain its shape/poundage
Bro, been subscribed for a while. Don’t wear dangling hoodie strings around machinery like that. Just saying because I care. Cut them strings out of the hoodie
Hi Kramer, I was wondering where you get your bamboo from. I am trying to make a reflex deflex bamboo bow but I cannot find out where to buy bamboo.
Thanks in advance!
Hi Braden, if you are in the US, 3RiversArchery will be a good source. Sometimes GardenCenters and DIY stores have bamboo poles and slats for construction and decorations.
Good luck!
@@christianbowyer7812 thanks👍
Make the bow at a higher poundage and set it off to the side for a week or two? Set the poundage after the time has elapsed?
I seen in bhutan plain bamboo without lamination and thats strong and fast but they choose the very matured bamboo same in india
I really tried to watch this, but have to stop as I almost got sick of the "stroboscopic" editing.
👍
Laege diameter bamboo so you rotate that grain 90°.
I think the problem is just that you made a longbow from bamboo. I mean, Chinese bowmakers don't even do that. lol
Why don't you try only one single bamboo for one limb
Boil the bambo with water and salt
Yeah, I didn't think wood glue would be good for making bows because of how hard and stiff wood glue gets and because it tends to crack when you try to pry it off of wood after it dries. Any time I glued two pieces of wood together with wood glue, the glue wouldn't have any spring to it. Also check out the all-bamboo bow-building TH-cam video that does not use glue on the Holy Maker TH-cam channel. The video is called The Process of Making the World's Best Bamboo Bow. Bamboo Bow Craftsmen in South Korea.
Look into rattan it’s like bamboos cousin
There is a clear reason why the simple bamboo bow lost so much draw weight, the thing has terrible tiller and all the stress is in the middle third of the bow, no natural material bow can hold it's dw with such terrible tiller. And btw, the tiller on that new bow made on this video is also mostly working in the inner thirds of the limbs. That's a location where you really don't want to have the most bend, because it's the least efficient location for energy transfer cus it's the furthest away from the string and any set that happens there has more impact to the over all string follow of the bow, cus it has the longest distance to affect, like half an inch set in the inner limb moves the limb tips back much more than that half an inch.
In addition to the poor tiller, the added reflex actually increases the amount of set on materials with poor compression capability cus it increases the amount the limb has to bend and thus increases the amount of compression. To make a bow with minimal set from a compression weak material, make it wide, long and most importantly without reflex! And trapping the back doesn't harm either (meaning the back is narrower than the belly, therefore the back strains the belly less and the belly has more compression surface).
Actually some areas the tribal people purposely make their bows deflex, cus of the poor material. They know that deflex reduces the speed, but it also reduces the stress, and thus the bow will hold it's poundage for longer and has less chance to break.
Well, you technically made a bow out of grass
I have two important questions,
1) when you were making your bow/bow limbs, what brand of Epoxy adhesive did you use?
2) How to choose which brand of Epoxy adhesive should be used?
Also.. where do you obtain your bamboo slats from?
Oh no. You didn't process the bamboo.
It is obvious, that you did not do any research or spent the least of a thought on how to use bamboo for a bow.
It is weed, a straw or a cane. So, the strongest fibres are naturally located in it's outer surface.
If you wanna avoid set you need to use the outside of the cane for the belly aswell. Just as if it were carbon or fiberglass.
Same with bamboo arrow shafts. You don't cut stripes and grind them , 'cause they will easilly bend. You will always use thin whole canes.
This is 95% bamboo
Good content poor choice in music.
Annoying music and cheeky edit
Bamboo is one of the worst materials to build bows out of because water & humidity is bamboos worst enemy .
Hi Robert, moisture is bad for many bow making materials. As Japanese bowmakers use bamboo exclusively for hundreds of years, there will be a way to make it work. One answer is to have the bamboo surface on back and belly, the other is heat threatment. A third might be careful storage of the finished bows.
Greetings from another bow maker.
Salut, je regarde souvent tes vidéos, mais pour celle la, ? c'est une merde. Je comprend rien. C'est le bordel. Patrick
CRAPY, LOUD MUSIC
So you really think that people has the toys ( gadgets ) that you have .. dude I was expecting like a home made with simple tolls.. you have a machine shop at your house ..
I am stoned out of my brain I love your show 420
This is 'How NOT to make a bamboo bow' the video
In the words of Harley Quinn, "Why dont you call it the Quiver?"