Building A Bamboo Bow

Bamboo is pretty much the perfect wood to make a bow with. Its flexible, strong and easy to work with. While I was in Thailand this spring break, I cut down a bamboo log and split it into three sections. I brought all three back with me on the plane and made it into a bow once I got here. Everything needed to make this bow comes from one bamboo tree and you can make it in a few hours with only a machete…

Introduction:
Bamboo is pretty much the perfect wood to make a bow with. Its flexible, strong and easy to work with. While I was in Thailand this spring break, I cut down a bamboo log and split it into three sections. I brought all three back with me on the plane and made it into a bow once I got here. Unfortunately, I didnt photograph the construction but Ill try to describe it as best as I can. Essentially, the whole bow is like a leaf spring on a car, and it can be constructed 100% from bamboo. Even the bowstring can be made from cutting lashings and pounding down the fibers and twisting them.

Step 1: Cut the bamboo.
Cut a log of bamboo about 5 feet or so long, Split it down the middle and cut three staves out of it. Bamboo it really razor sharp when its cut so round of the edges with a machete.
All three staves should be white on the inside and have the green shell of the bamboo on the outside. Trim up the staves and make them smooth. Cut each stave shorter than the previous one.
Step 2: Cut lashings from the bamboo
This is fairly easy when the bamboo is green. Take the machete and just push off a small sliver of the bamboo. Then just run the blade down the entire length of the log and you have yourself a lashing. These will be used to tie the staves together to form a leaf spring-like bow.

Step 3: Lash the staves together.
If your bamboo is brown, youll have to boil the lashings before you try to tie with them. Otherwise, the green bamboo is really easy to work with. Stick one end of the lashing between two of the staves and just keep a lot of tension on it as you wrap it around the staves. When you run out of the lashing, just jam it back between the staves. You should be able to get enough tension to hold the lashings there and it will shrink as it dries so it just gets tighter.

Up further on bow, you might want to tie some lashings as guides for the middle piece. This method wont work for these lashings so you will have to do a little weaving. Its not that hard and hopefully you can see it in the pictures.
Step 4: Recurve.
With green or boiled bamboo, you can recurve the ends if you want. Simply find somewhere to clamp the tips of the bow back and let it dry in the position you want.

Step 5: String and Shoot
Let the bamboo dry before you do this part. Then go out and shoot it and feel like a real man or woman.