From: JimG
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Date: 14-Jan-21 |
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I've ordered a GN Ghost. I asked the new bowyer for bamboo as the core wood under GN's standard brown glass. It's one of the options as a core wood and was his recommendation. I'm now second guessing myself. I like bamboo in straight limbed bows. But a longbow/flatbow is not a recurve.
For those familiar with the Ghost/Super Ghost, what core woods do you like or recommend?
And yes I already know that the core wood in a glass laminated bow basically serves as a spacer for the back/belly glass and has very little effect on performance and shootabilty/feel.
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From: aromakr
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Date: 14-Jan-21 |
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Bamboo is an outstanding core wood in any bow design, its light and strong.
Bob
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From: Bows&Beers
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Date: 14-Jan-21 |
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In all honesty the material used in the core doesn't really make that much of a difference. As much as people think it does. There are many other things that will make a bow shoot better. Then the core wood, you simply could have went with maple and had the same results and outcome.
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From: MattS
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Date: 14-Jan-21 |
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Honestly I can't tell the difference between bamboo core and maple or actionwood. Nothing I could tell if I was shooting with my eyes closed. I'd take any if the 3 above.
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From: Flyman
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Date: 14-Jan-21 |
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Ihave had quite a few bows with bamboo core.I really think the bows drew smoother and were quicker.
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From: JimG
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Date: 14-Jan-21 |
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My other options that I considered was osage and elm if that matters at all. GN normally does not offer maple for core wood.
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From: The Whittler
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Date: 14-Jan-21 |
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In a blindfold test I doubt anyone could tell the difference. Don't 2nd guess yourself it's a good core material just enjoy. And don't forget to show us pics. when you get it.
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From: DougInMN
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Date: 14-Jan-21 |
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I think you made a good choice as mentioned above not a ton of difference, my all time favorite bow is a Pronghorn Ferret, Boo core sandwiched by 2 Red elm lams.
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From: Andy Man
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Date: 14-Jan-21 |
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Have in my 2 BW recurves and all of my longbows- no complaints
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From: joe vt
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Date: 14-Jan-21 |
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Hey Jim, I am replying even though I don't have a GN Ghost.
I have both longbows and recurves with and without bamboo core in the 45-50#s @ 28" range. For me, I do not feel or see any differences. If you asked me what are my favorite longbows I own, they would include core woods of bamboo, yew, and maple.
If you asked me the same question regarding my recurves, my favorites would include core woods of actionwood, maple, and bamboo.
Go figure!
The actual extra cost of the bamboo option would cause me to get it or not. I do believe that bamboo is better for resale value.
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From: Wudstix
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Date: 14-Jan-21 |
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Bamboo is core on three of my four main bows recurve and longbow. The one is a PBS auction acquisition with elm core. Bamboo works just fine.
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From: fdp
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Date: 14-Jan-21 |
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I'm in the camp of not feeling that core wood matters in a recurve.
Steve Gardner (badger) proved to me a number of years ago that contrary to what I was convinced of Bamboo is not consistently lighter than other core woods and many times is in fact heavier. Nor does it recover from bending any quicker than anything else.
I do believe it makes outstanding backing on all natural material bows though.
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From: JusPassin
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Date: 14-Jan-21 |
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An old bowyer friend of mine knew Fred and discussed bows with him off and on. Fred's bows where built to make him money. Performance was not his main goal, durability was. He didn't want to get bows back to repair or replace. Maple is durable, and dependable.
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From: DanaC
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Date: 14-Jan-21 |
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Had a set of bamboo-core limbs, I think they were a bit smoother than the ones they rep,aced, but 'smooth' is hard to quantify. Still, if the cost wasn't excessive, I'd recommend them.
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From: aromakr
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Date: 14-Jan-21 |
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Frank: I agree there can be a great amount of weight difference, as bamboo is a grass and unless it is heat treated it can be heavy, but when heat treated it is extremely light. I've proven that my self making what few bows I've made, by weighing before and after heat treating a strip of cane. Its amazing the weight loss. John Schulz and I were talking about that one morning when we were both having our trucks worked on at the same garage.
Bob
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From: fdp
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Date: 14-Jan-21 |
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Hmmm...I never thought about the heat treating angle, but I can see how that would decrease the weight.
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From: tecum-tha
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Date: 14-Jan-21 |
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Not familiar with The Ghost, but bamboo as a core material is awesome if the bow is above 50# draw weight. Modern glass is much stronger than the glass of old, that will require less core material in the recurves. Bamboo is not very resistant to torque in comparison to maple for example. I have seen recurves under 45# to be more prone to twist in the recurves having bamboo limbs. I would stay with maple under 50# in a recurve, especially if the recurve is a wider flatter limb.
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From: JimG
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Date: 14-Jan-21 |
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No additional cost, so that's not's a factor. I have no idea as to whether the boo is heat treated or not.
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From: Jeff Durnell
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Date: 14-Jan-21 |
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I made a one piece tempered bamboo recurve. Clear glass. 84 lbs. Bolivian rosewood riser. That thing spits an 850 grain arrow in an impressive fashion. But maybe it just seems like it because I'm used to selfbow trajectory :^)
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From: tecum-tha
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Date: 14-Jan-21 |
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When everything is perfectly straight, it makes no difference. But no archers releases the string straight. The olympic limb companies invest great research and money in making a limb laterally more stable....
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From: Orion
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Date: 14-Jan-21 |
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I had a bamboo core Ghost several years ago. Very nice bow. Just got too heavy for me and had to sell it. BTW, I don't buy the myth that core doesn't make a difference or that it just serves as a spacer and doesn't contribute much to the overall strength/poundage of the bow .
If that were the case, why would folks build all wood or all bamboo or some combination of wood and bamboo laminated bows. They seem to shoot quite well without fiberglass, and they're not much thicker than glass laminated bows of the same poundage. Adding fiberglass makes them more durable and does increase the poundage substantially, but the core's contribution is also significant, IMO.
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From: JimG
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Date: 14-Jan-21 |
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Tecum-ha
I asked for 45# @ 26" with the understanding that it would be +/- 2#. So that should put it right at 50# @ 28" give or take. As for the limb profile, the limbs are deep cored, almost longbow like with a working recurve. Great Northern is first and fore most a flatbow/longbow builder and that is reflected in their recurves. So twist should not be as much of a threat as some other recurves......I hope.
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From: Orion
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Date: 14-Jan-21 |
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Jim: The Ghost is actually fairly slim toward the tips, though I haven't heard that limb twist was ever a problem. Regardless, when Jerry still owned the company, I believe he began inserting 8-10-inch long wedges in the recurve area of the Ghosts -- to increase stability and no doubt add a little more performance.
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From: Mike E
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Date: 14-Jan-21 |
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The smoothest bow I ever owned was yew back and bamboo belly no core wood in between.
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From: algstick
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Date: 14-Jan-21 |
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You will get lots of opinions on the core wood issue. I would trust the recommendation of the bowyer you have selected it is his design and he knows what works best for his bows and the draw length / draw weight you have requested.
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From: Runner
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Date: 14-Jan-21 |
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Bamboo really holds onto water much like Hickory. Likely the weight loss from heat treating is mostly water. Heat treated material does not take moisture back up to the same degree.
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From: bowhunt
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Date: 14-Jan-21 |
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I have had 3 Super Ghosts.
Like you stated Jim.It has a narrow limb with deep core and thicker stack.Not sure when they added the tip inserts.But it sounds like it makes for a stronger tip and a little more punch.
I really liked my all Osage limbed Superghost.It had clear glass.It was a real strong shooter with heavier hunting arrows.We all know Osage is very strong/tough bow wood.Its really good in compression on the belly.Some combine it with bamboo on the back in all wood laminated bows.Typically a little heavier than Bamboo.It looks great as well on the Ghosts.Osage Might be a bit more torsionally stable in that deep core Ghost limb?
My other ones were red elm and bamboo.
Just saying I liked the all Osage one I had.Reiterate I shot heavier hunting arrows.Like 12 grains per pound.60 inch bow,65 #s at 30".I had a longer draw back then.
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From: M60gunner
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Date: 14-Jan-21 |
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Yes, heat treating boo does take the water out. It also makes it more springy, think bamboo fly rods. But I am talking boo veneers not boo flooring ot laminated like used by some bowyers. That stuff probably weights more than Osage or Maple.
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From: Jeff Durnell
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Date: 14-Jan-21 |
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Orion, I don't buy that myth either... or any other.
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From: JimG
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Date: 14-Jan-21 |
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Please keep the thoughts on this subject coming.
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From: Jeff Durnell
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Date: 14-Jan-21 |
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I don't like colored glass, or the look of bamboo under clear glass, but I wouldn't be opposed to making another bow with tempered bamboo core lams with a good looking veneer lam over them. That's probably the only way I'd use 'raw' bamboo in a laminated bow.
A buddy of mine has been making lams with vertically laminated bamboo stair treads in his d/r longbows with various veneers over them and the performance is real good, and they look awesome.
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From: Draven
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Date: 14-Jan-21 |
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I have a longbow made by Jaap Koppedrayer and is "all natural" - no glass - bamboo core and superflex actionwood outer lams, 6 layers. My Dave Johnson ASL I love and the lightest bow I own - 2 layers of glass and 4 lams of red cedar. Between the two, the Jaap's is outshooting the ASL with same gpp. I believe the truth is in the middle : the material and the design will make a bow to perform better than other.
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From: Runner
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Date: 14-Jan-21 |
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The actual weight of bamboo varies depending on how much is power fibers and how much the pithier inner portion.
Power fibers alone or mostly power fibers actually weighs similar to typical hardwoods. Tonkin power fibers are denser than Ipe and heavier as a result.
Moso is pretty close to Maple in its outer portion.
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From: Bassman
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Date: 14-Jan-21 |
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I have made glass bows with maple,and lam boo core. If their is a difference in speed, and smoothness of draw I didn't see it, and maple core is cheaper to buy. It has been the standard of the industry for decades. Still pretty tough to beat even today over all.
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From: JimG
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Date: 15-Jan-21 |
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For those who are mentioning maple, well it's not an option for me. Nor is foam. Or yew. Hickory, osage, bamboo, and red elm are my options. I could maybe get him to use ash as well.
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From: Bassman
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Date: 15-Jan-21 |
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Just another choice in life. Your bow your call.
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From: Ihunts2much
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Date: 15-Jan-21 |
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I would think osage, and to a lesser extent hickory would be last choice due to thier density. Like said, the core is just "taking up space". So make it as light as possible.
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From: mahantango
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Date: 16-Jan-21 |
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My Mahantango Raven by Jim Martin is a narrow limbed '50s style recurve very similar to the Ghost. It is three lams of boo under clear glass, no veneers. It is the only bamboo limb recurve I own and also the smoothest and quickest.
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From: fdp
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Date: 16-Jan-21 |
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Irregardless of perception or emotion attached to lamination material in most applications there is more performance difference between 2 sets of lamination of the same material than there is between 2 sets of lamination of different wood/grass.
Particularly in bows that have small amounts of glass them such as recurve and many deflex/reflex longbows.
That has all been hashed out before.
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From: Adam Howard
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Date: 16-Jan-21 |
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Mahantango x2 , Jim builds a spectacular recurve and the bamboo is awesome feeling and shooting
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From: Stephan
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Date: 30-Dec-21 |
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Adding a little opinion to the thread here. Originally i came across this in search of Mahantango. I have several vintage recurves all of them being maple laminations and performing excellent if not superb. My custom built recurves all use bamboo cores and they are quick. Yet i do have one Javaman Assyrian by Gregg and he deliberately prefers maple for stability reasons on a recurve. This bow is a static recurve. It simply outperformes any other modern bamboo build in cast and accuracy. Another recurve i have was made by Stewart. It’s a two ply yew wood lamination. Excellent cast and smoothness combined with unrivaled beauty. Long story short my feel is hardwoods do add stability and power when it comes to shooting heavy 12gpp arrows.
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From: SB
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Date: 30-Dec-21 |
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Bamboo limb cores in this Big River....
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From: tracy warren
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Date: 30-Dec-21 |
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JimG, of those choices, either bamboo or the Red Elm. So your good to go. Enjoy.
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From: Babysaph
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Date: 31-Dec-21 |
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Core wood doesn’t matter.
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From: shade mt
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Date: 31-Dec-21 |
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You will hear different opinions, even amongst bowyers. That in itself tells you something. If bamboo was better in all instances there would be more uniform opinion.
Wood to glass ratio makes the biggest difference.
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From: BigJim
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Date: 31-Dec-21 |
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BigJim is a Stickbow.com Sponsor - Website |
actionboo aka, bamboo is a great choice. I'm sure when Bear started using maple, it was the most readily available "good" core wood not to mention cheapest. .. emphasis on cheapest.
I see thousands of used bows a year.. coming in for trade or sale and the manufactured bows with twisted limbs far out number the custom bows with twisted limbs. Part of this is because of the sheer numbers or percentage of manufactured vs custom.. probably two to one. Due to core type? I highly doubt it, probably more like the newby's who don't know how to take care of one generally start out with a manufactured bow. It is also likely that the guys building bows at those places don't pay attention to tapers that pull to one side or the other as much as they should.
I have done a couple of osage cores.. no doubt you can feel the difference. Most all actionboo is tempered and extremely consistent. It's also ..with rare exception mosos.
I would take the bowyers recommendations.
In my shop, you have three core choices : actionboo, actionboo, or if you ask real nice, actionboo!
BigJim
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From: Nemah
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Date: 31-Dec-21 |
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Bamboo for me. It’s in every bow I make, except maybe some very light 48” kids bows. I buy vertical grained quality Bamboo flooring by the case and mill all my own core laminations. Richard
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From: Jinkster
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Date: 31-Dec-21 |
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Bamboo is both stronger and lighter than maple making it both faster, quieter and less shockey.
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From: fdp
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Date: 31-Dec-21 |
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Bamboo isn't necessarily lighter than Maple. That will vary from one set of lamination to another.
What is mostly being discussed are is laminated bamboo or Actionboo. It is essentially the bamboo equivalent of Actionwood.
I don't think there was/is anyvauestion 9f whether the material would or wouldn't make a good lamination, the question was is it significantly better than anything else.
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From: bodymanbowyer
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Date: 31-Dec-21 |
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So are we trying to figure out is Flat Grain bamboo or Action-Boo. These are two different types of core bamboo. JF
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From: fdp
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Date: 31-Dec-21 |
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Yep...
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