What is the best glue to use when backing an Osage self bow with bamboo and why?

Urac is sure hard to beat. That said folks use epoxy, as well as Tite-Bond with good success as well.

There is a new one that is fantastic "West Systems" G-flex 650 I love it.

Bob

I just glued up an American Flatbow design using T-88. I'll let you know soon how it works out.

You can't get URAC any more... or the old Resorcinol either. Nelson is selling Unibond as a substitute for URAC, some are using titebond glues, some use smooth on epoxy, and others use weldwood plastic resin... so I guess lots of things will work depending on how well you prep the surfaces and how big the gaps are that you need to fill.

How would glass bedding gel work. What they use to glass bed a rifle stock with?

Glass bedding like Acra-Glass or a similar product is epoxy. It just has filler suspended in it to make it thick.

West Systems, or G-2 products work extremely well and are usually avaialble locally at either a West Marine store, or Woodcrafters.

Bowlim, do you know anyone who has used Unibond? I personally don't.

Thanks for all the input. Making my third bow First one to have bamboo backing Just wanted to be sure I used the right glue Once I get the bamboo onto the back of the bow and get some tillering done I am going to try to steam bend some reflex into the limbs. Will these glues be able to take the heat and steam and still stayed glued to the limbs. Will they be flexible enough to stand putting some reflex in the limbs

Thanks for all the input. Making my third bow First one to have bamboo backing Just wanted to be sure I used the right glue Once I get the bamboo onto the back of the bow and get some tillering done I am going to try to steam bend some reflex into the limbs. Will these glues be able to take the heat and steam and still stayed glued to the limbs. Will they be flexible enough to stand putting some reflex in the limbs

I do know several bowyers that use unibond 800 for their BBOs. Mike Yancey sells quite a bit of it.

I wouldn't steam it after glue up no matter which glue was used. That's begging for trouble. A much better alternative is to first get the osage thin enough that it will bend into reflex with moderate clamping pressure, and then induce the reflex during glue up. Then, the glue joint won't be subject to unnecessary heat, and moisture won't be added to the wood. The bamboo and glue joint will maintain the profile with ease.

I've used Unibond(was Urac) on several bows and it works well, but Smooth On EA-40 epoxy has been my choice for bamboo backed bows for many years now, simply because I always have it, it works just as well as Unibond, and that means one less glue I have to keep around.

But the best glue for YOUR particular application depends on the surface prep of your pieces and what you plan to subject it to afterwards.

Smooth On and Unibond can both take SOME heat after proper curing. I've done it with very careful use of the heat gun for slight limb alignment corrections. That does NOT mean I fully trust it to hold together a more severe bend under the more heat needed to bend reflex into a limb. In that case, you would really be fighting that glue joint as you tried to make the bend, and I'm afraid you'd win.

Lots of good glued out there. I’ve used urea formaldehyde since the mid seventies on all wood bows to great success. This glue held the timber framed WW2 British mosquito bomber aircraft together, good enough for me, and cheap.

If you have already registered, please

sign in now

For new registrations

Click Here