Building the Bamboo Backed Longbow - Complete Guide

This week we're building a bamboo backed deflex/reflex osage longbow. For this bow you'll need some sort of belly material. Both ipe and osage are popular. In this bow building vid we'll be using osage for the belly. You'll also need a piece of bamboo backing. I got mine from 3RiversArchery.com. We'll start by using a z splice to join two osage belly slats. Once the belly slats are joined we will but out the profile for the longbow and pre tiller them. Then we'll do the same with the bamboo backing. Pre tillering the belly and back laminates will make the tillering process go much smoother. Once the pieces are tillered, it's time to glue up the pieces. For this we'll use a two part epoxy, EA-40.
These natural laminated longbows and recurves are a great way to get into building primitive and traditional bows. Although not what I'd call a primitive bow, they are made from natural materials and it's something you can do at home with minimal tools and woodworking experience. And they shoot great.
Some other videos you might want to check out are:
• R/D bamboo backed Ipe ...
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[@pheralphish]

I love the fact that you continually explain that you don’t need a ton of fancy equipment, just use what you have available to get the job done 😊

[@kevindice1092]

I honestly never considered tillering the backing- I like it! I always just shot for a consistent thickness. Profiling the width of the bamboo before final thinning is a real important step, as it compensates for the “curve” in the cross section.

[@stephenballard3759]

I do like you do. I usually end up wanting stiff narrow tips, so It works out. I usually start with a tapered belly lam, though.

[@willtran6624]

That's a Staedler engineer's scale! Ive come from watching your basic videos and now have begin diving into the depths of bow construction. My affliction for everything archery has taken a deep dive and I am grateful to have such a great teacher and resources!

[@tonyspencer9350]

Great build and don't diss thee, ruler. I've been using the same one for 43 years. Got it for my first drafting class

[@DarinAlexander-u9y]

Thanks Clay! You are a damn good teacher brother! Because of you and this video I made one awesome bow brother. Thanks for your awesome videos and excellent, easy to understand direction. I followed your instructions and made a bamboo backed Osage deflex/reflex that is a smoker!

[@stevesoutdoorworld4340]

I have only made 6 ipe and bamboo bows and i made my bamboo 1/8" in thick and ipe i made 3/8" thick and that gave me a 40lb at 72" bow. This combo makes a very tuff and fast bow . Nice looking bow you built!

[@18IMAMGODINA]

That cut was next level

[@stevew2347]

Another excellent bow building video Clay. Great tip on the reflection from the saw blade for achieving an accurate splice. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[@clayhayeshunter]

You’re most welcome

[@gregbagwell5543]

Enjoyed the video Clay...well done! You do a really good job of explaining the steps and reasons why you’re doing what you’re doing. I liked all the tips on tillering through that process. Also respect your stating when you lack experience shy of expertise and telling where to find additional information on the topic.

[@clayhayeshunter]

Thanks Greg

[@ondrejcelner4702]

Tětivu držíš špatně ale to nijak nezmenšuje tvoje mistrovství ve výrobě luků jseš borec všechna čest 👏👏👏👌👌👌👌

[@2greeksandacamera]

Nice to watch a master bowyer at his craft Clay.

[@clayhayeshunter]

😊

[@sherifhesham8864]

Nice bow 🏹

[@HuntGuy101]

Love the bow builds absolute beauty

[@clayhayeshunter]

Thanks much

[@nevalchaney9526]

Liked the video. Information on building a bow was good.i

[@charlesdavis9937]

This is another channel that has brought back my passion for archery and making a bow. I would like to make an Osage or Ipe and bamboo recurve bow.

[@simonsparks5738]

Thanks Clay. Great instructional video. Greetings from South Africa.

[@ThatNinja1]

Thanks clay for all this great content

[@clayhayeshunter]

You bet

[@samivey8416]

You've helped bring to life what the Traditional Bowyers Bible brought out

[@the_inquisitive_inquisitor]

I've always wanted to make my own recurve bow but I've never quite had the gumption to actually do it. Beautiful work, yet again!

[@VHARDRADA]

For better and easier gluing you can boil the water, take some deep thing put it in hot water and mix the glue in this pod in hot water. Glue will become easier to handle and faster to combine if it is a epoxy.

[@libertyrogueoutdoorsrogue6152]

Clay...great video, as always! Long time sub & looking forward to Season 8 of ALONE...Iwas on season 4 & a sub on season 5....welcome to the family!

[@meadowlarkadventuregear]

Clay - Thank you for the referral in the description! Glad to see guys advancing this style of build!

[@clayhayeshunter]

Great info in your series!

[@gabrielm.4554]

old boxing hand wraps are very good for pressure application when gluing backing to a bow

[@patlearn]

Super Clay, bel et bon arc !!

[@bigmarty6670]

Great video! Can't wait for Alone, June 3rd !

[@terrysmith8714]

You are a wealth of info Sr. Thank you for all you do. Cheers.

[@stephenballard3759]

Getting a little brave with the grain on that osage, Clay! Usually fine, of course, and you know your stuff. Just for the benefit of newcomers, even with a backing, you still want the best grain you can find for your belly lam. Not every board or slat will work. I failed on several massaranduba bows, because the grain ran so steeply front to back and it would slip-fracture when bent despite the backing.

[@clayhayeshunter]

Yep, you're absolutely right!

[@stephenlindsey9233]

Fantastic video 📹! Very detailed and easy to follow

[@FT4Freedom]

I don't know if Clay will see this. But his heart is big. He loves his fellow people.

[@MikeAnnunziato]

Can't believe i watched the whole video, awesome work. 👍

[@clayhayeshunter]

Thanks

[@MarcRitzMD]

Hey Champ, I might have a suggestion for your tillering tree setup. You could get yourself a can of "Rust-Oleum Chalkboard" spray. Paint the background to your tillering tree in a monochromatic and contrasting color. Better visibility and the added advantage that you can use chalk for marking things.

[@clayhayeshunter]

👍

[@nakoawarrior3186]

THIS IS A PRETTY GOOD VIDEO. DEAN TORGES DOES IT DIFFERENT THOUGH. YOU PUT BOTH PIECES OF WOOD IN A DRY BOX SO IT WILL GLUE RIGHT AND NOT DELAMINATE. AND YOU TILLER IT WITH THE STRING ON. And more in Hunting The Bamboo Backed Bow.-----DEAN TORGES

[@colb715]

Another great video looking fwd to my first red oak effort

[@KN4MDE]

Great video and good looking bow. Thanks.

[@diy-hyrum9842]

I've been trying to figure out the best way to splice to half slabs together for the longest time. Problem solved! Thank you!

[@clayhayeshunter]

Glad to help

[@VSci_]

I know this is old, but for a belly laminated in the middle like this, you can even just mate the butt ends together. If you want it to hold for pre-tillering then you need a proper joint.

[@davidcarpenter9232]

Love it ,,, lots of useful tips ... Thanks 👍👍👍

[@russparker1647]

Good build, well explained, especially trapping the edges, never heard of that before. What effect would heat treating the belly have now? Or is it a problem with a laminated bow and the heat softening the glue joint after the fact?

[@mikeney5113]

Love all the videos.thanks.i am thinking of starting to shoot and hint with traditional bow.love the challenge.

[@thomasreisinger2139]

We gotta get this man some tools

[@clayhayeshunter]

😆 all my stuff is in Idaho!

[@magicdaveable]

Nice build.

[@renaudhianne1028]

good and explicative video ,, you should paint the wall because of the nodes troubling wiew

[@migalito1955]

Interesting. I am only 7 minutes into the video, so perhaps time will tell. Right now I am asking myself why, other than limited availability of desired lengths or high postage cost, would someone create the belly out of two pieces spliced with standard wood joining methods as opposed to a single continuous piece of the belly lumber? Is there a reason I have missed? While one is at it and if you have a local mill such as I am lucky to have within 15 miles of me, I would use a piece of lumber for the belly that came from a rough sawed piece of belly lumber thick enough that the handle was integral as opposed to glued on, but glued on is fine too, especially if you want to use a pretty wood such as Ambrosia for incorporation into the handle or riser. I'll have to check out Three Rivers more carefully to see what is available from them. I do hope they sell the Bamboo.(edited: after looking more carefully I found they do sell the Bamboo plus quite a bit of useful tools and materials) I'd love to back with other than glass when I do back the Bow and bamboo is my aesthetic choice because I like them to look like a piece of art in addition to being functional. I know Clay has the rawhide that he sells for backing. I just like the appearance of either natural wood or bamboo and in general forgo backing a bow unless it's really short such as crossbow prod.

[@kenhart6330]

The English bowmen in the 14th - 15th century had bows that had a draw weight of up to 180lb, they were drawing bows from an early age. The draw weights went up as they grew until they could draw a full size bow. During this time it's been proved that they could fire an arrow up to three hundred yards, far further than European archers of the time.

[@the_inquisitive_inquisitor]

I have to imagine that'd do some whacky stuff to your back after a decade or two. I recently started blacksmithing as a hobby and now my shoulders are visibly lopsided lol

[@kenhart6330]

@@the_inquisitive_inquisitor yeah I did some smiting from school at 15 years old and know what you mean. What made it better for me is I am ambidextrous, being able to use my left hand evened it up. I left that job after 8 years went to make more money.

[@VHARDRADA]

Clay, do you ever think about making a mongolian horn and sinew backed bow? That is the best bow if it is done the right way! Also can we back a bow with a thin piece of oak or hickory or elm instead of bamboo?

[@zacellingham6998]

Great video it’s very hard to find this stuff in Canada!

[@o.k.2254]

great video

[@NelsonCobb]

Howdy! Does the grain ordination matter on belly slats when building a bow this way?

[@jeronimomariscal6268]

Hola Clay, me gustaría saber cuánto tiempo está el arco en la caja y a qué temperatura para que epoxi seque, gracias maestro y saludos

[@juanantonioespinosa8816]

Very nice video. Thank you. Why do we should want more tiller distance in the uper limb (positive tiller)?.

[@clayhayeshunter]

It helps in tuning, getting the arrow to come off the shelf straight.

[@charlesewillmore5252]

excellent like your style.

[@clayhayeshunter]

Thank you kindly!

[@ДмитрийХолт]

lmao i thought i've been subscribed for a while. i just subscribed

[@libertyrogueoutdoors7369]

Clay...great video, as always! Long time sub & looking forward to Season 8 of ALONE...I was on Season 4 & a sub on season 5...welcome to the family!

[@clayhayeshunter]

Thanks much

[@russellverdin8339]

Disregard my previous question about why you didn't cut it on a bandsaw, I seen that you said you didn't have one as the later on in the video you stated

[@philipsutton2316]

Clay - I watched this interesting video again. When you make your self bows, of course you chase the growth ring along the full length of the bow. For this bow you didn't mention the direction of the grain for your billets. By what I could see it looks like the grain goes at right angles to the back and belly (90 deg to the grain in your self bows). Does this matter? Does it make the bow weaker or stronger than if the grain went the same way as on your self bows? Thanks Clay.

[@clayhayeshunter]

I try to select billets with quarter sawn grain that runs from end to end.

[@mohunter68]

You are the master at tillering a bow hands down. I suck at it and I think it's like that feeling you get when you finally 10 ring your target at will without aiming. You just "See it" and once you see it, you can't unsee it. Did that make sense? I struggle so long with a recurve that I almost got rid of it until I actually saw my arrow fly straight to the vitals of my buck target and it just "clicked" now it's like riding a bike doesn't matter what brand/style/new/ or old I can pick up a recurve or longbow and still hit the vitals.

[@henrikmikkelsen6472]

TAK ❤ ( Thanks ) 🎉❤🇩🇰🇩🇰🇩🇰🇩🇰

[@nachomarco2279]

Clay, thanks a lot for this guide. I would like to know what kind of bamboo have yo used and where do you buy it. Thanks again from Spain.

[@jeronimomariscal6268]

hello I would like to know how many degrees of temperature? in the box and the time 4 hours, 6 hours...? sorry for my translation thanks and greetings

[@russellverdin8339]

I'm curious why didn't you just use a bandsaw?

[@antondefense3325]

Would it be helpful to do markings, like a ruler, on the wall, on each side of handle when you use the tiller?

[@fishmaniachannel]

Xlent sir

[@clayhayeshunter]

thank ya

[@riseofduckente9868]

nice vid. does the grain not mather for the belly material of the bow?

[@clayhayeshunter]

As long as it doesn’t run off at a steep angle it’ll be fine.

[@SpiritoftheOutdoors]

did something happen to your tools man? i just had in mind you had some of them in past builds in Utah

[@clayhayeshunter]

They’d all in Idaho. This was done in Florida.

[@SpiritoftheOutdoors]

@@clayhayeshunter oh ok that explains it then, i was going on the fact that you had a jacket on and its hot in Missippi now lol

[@JAEUFM]

Have you considered building a bow backed with horn, or, is such a thing possible? I don't know if that would require sinew or the techniques you used with the bamboo would work as well.

[@clayhayeshunter]

I’d love to make a horn belly bow but don’t have the materials.

[@tonypace2009]

Awesome video. I am a little curious about which way to do backing for performance thinner bamboo or is the thicker trap cut better or more responsive. I know it will also depend on type bellie wood also into the balance. You seemed impressed on this bows speed so just kinda wondering if you think thicker backing of bamboo made the difference.

[@clayhayeshunter]

I wouldn’t expect there to be much difference based just on that but I’ve never really tested it.

[@your0a0asshole]

Pine hollow longbows used to sell wood for bows.

[@MONKLJ]

Clay if you mentioned it, I didn't catch it, what did you cut you arrow shelf to center or less then center, by about what 1/16, 1/8 or ???? from center, what is your normal cut for the shelf ? As far as the complete build, excellent video, Thanks !!

[@clayhayeshunter]

It’s probably 1/8 off center.

[@MONKLJ]

@@clayhayeshunter Thanks

[@c4t4phr4ct1]

I want ask you bro, What bamboo should I use? Young Bamboo (green one) Or Old Bamboo (yellow one) Only that my question, Greetings from SouthEast Asia ❤️

[@clayhayeshunter]

Thr older ones work better

[@c4t4phr4ct1]

@@clayhayeshunter Thank you for your advice. My bow already 60% to finish, My next obstacle is searching "TiteBond", (Any varian; I, II and III) Because in my country that glue is not available. I will using the imitation of that glue, Just try, Succeed or not, Will see. I hope same quality 😅

[@davidtidwell5312]

Clay, where did you get your bowyers bench? Looks awesome!!! Great videos!!!

[@clayhayeshunter]

Stavemaster.com

[@roberttay2071]

Mr Hayes do you make two piece osage longbows / self bow with no backing . Back of bow on one growth free of knots from Osage billets and the smaller metal sleeves fro 3 Rivers Archery and a arrow shelf for 5/16 arrows I am interested in purchasing an all Osage takedown bow .if you do not make and sell bows . Could you recommend some bowyer who I can build a bow for me as described . Thank you .

[@clayhayeshunter]

Check out Weylin Olive, Carson Brown, and Ryan Gill

[@russellferris4084]

Can I just buy one from you?

[@richardquick826]

how many feet per sec.? whats the thickness on the end of the bamboo? your belly on the wood is how thick please? i will use red elm for the belly of the bow. richard please , give the measurements in inches

[@richardquick826]

is the power lam longer than the handle? because without the power lam , that handle may pop off?

[@clayhayeshunter]

Yes, I’m the lam stiffens the riser so it doesn’t flex and pop the handle off.

[@williamstewart8449]

For the belly slats do the growth rings need to be across the bow width like when making a selfbow? I noticed yours were at an angle.

[@stephenballard3759]

I can answer that. You can usually orient the rings either quartersawn, or flat like a selfbow, as you say, but I have found diagonal (rift sawn) grain will sometimes twist to one side as the bow is drawn. And despite what a backing can let you get away with, you still want both rings and radial grain running as straight end to end as you can. You can't totally ignore the grain.

[@kyletango]

I have 2 short pieces of Osage with the bark still attached that I have had for years. My question is, can I saw them into plank and be able to use bamboo backing. Also, I have some 8 foot pieces of Japanese bamboo that have been under a shed drying for bout 6 months, do you think that I could use them for this project at this time?

[@clayhayeshunter]

There are many different species of bamboo so I’m not sure what you have there. You could saw slats from the pieces so long as they’re not too knotty. Or you could just splice them together for a selfbow.

[@bryonguenther6199]

That was an awesome video! How important is it to have straight grained belly wood?

[@clayhayeshunter]

Straight grain is nice but not necessary so long as you avoid big knots.

[@SandSniper97]

I bought a couple pieces of bamboo, they all have a natural bend towards the belly, the opposite direction of a reflex. I was wanting to make a bamboo/ipe reflex bow with a long consistent reflex across the whole bow (hoping that would be easier to tiller since it would be my third bow). should I bend the bamboo separately then bend the bow?

[@clayhayeshunter]

No, glue it up in whatever shape you want and it’ll stay that way.

[@BeSatori]

Do you still recommend the power lam one single piece bellies that don't have a splice?

[@clayhayeshunter]

It's a good idea because it'll help stiffen up the riser an keep the handle laminate from popping off.

[@thefeatheredfrontiersman8135]

Omg clay, I've been trying to figure out that square cut forever now! Do you have some footage where you go into depth and detail on it?!!!! I've been trying to get it down for a mountain mahogany bow. Since that stuff just won't grow straight I must figure out a different way. T.I.A. - ryley

[@clayhayeshunter]

You mean the z splice? You’d do it a little different on natural billets. I haven’t covered that yet.

[@thefeatheredfrontiersman8135]

@@clayhayeshunter please do! Last time I tried and failed on a couple of juniper staves. They became an atl-atl and pressure flakers instead. But like I said mountain mahogany....

[@vincenaccarato5833]

Can you add bamboo backing to an existing recurve bow to increase the draw weight ?

[@VSci_]

Yes. I've done this twice. Although with an 1/8" thick bamboo it was quite easy to get it to conform to the recurves with the bike innertube, I tried 3/16" bamboo and it was almost too stiff to bend around the tight recurve. I'd taper it to 1/8" or more at the tips.

[@lakshminarayanraju7911]

Hi how can i get one fr u sir

[@a.b.k1983]

Does grain runoff become a moot point with the backing?

[@clayhayeshunter]

Yes, to a point. I don’t think you’d want excessive run off but some is definitely not an issue.

[@blakewaterworth744]

Can you add snake skin backing on top of the bamboo?

[@clayhayeshunter]

Probably but I’ve never seen that.

[@Todzilla386]

Could a recurve be made like this?

[@VSci_]

Yes, make the recurves first then back the bow.

[@guyinknapp]

Soo I've watched a few videos on these bamboo backed bows and none of them talk about the ideal grain direction of the osage or ipe or hickory.

[@clayhayeshunter]

Ideally you want the grain to run full length. In my limited experience it doesn’t matter if it’s flat sawn or quarter sawn.

[@guyinknapp]

Perfect thank you for clearing that up. I was thinking qter sawn hickory to try if I like a bamboo bow I might order some osage slats. But red elm would be also good and snappy too.

[@fulcrum789]

Would backing an osage bow with fiberglass be a viable option?

[@clayhayeshunter]

Sure

[@fulcrum789]

@@clayhayeshunter I see 3 rivers has an Osage board and fiberglass backing and the riser section for sale. With the EA 40. Then again I can always get more of your deer rawhide, that stuff worked great on the red oak board I found at the hardware store. I just have to keep my dogs away from the rawhide they think it is for them. Making bows is a joy. Thanks for what you do. My kids love watching and learning as much as I do.

[@tylercly5647]

did you ever do the cedar bow hunting video

[@clayhayeshunter]

I’ve taken it out a couple times but haven’t got anything with it yet.

[@tylercly5647]

@@clayhayeshunter Because I was going to make self bow so I wanted to see if the bow worked

[@vetog9438]

Hi Clay, what kind of string material are you using?

[@clayhayeshunter]

D97

[@vetog9438]

@@clayhayeshunter thank you Clay

[@vetog9438]

@@clayhayeshunter by the way, your videos are really inspiring, I'm making a bow, just like you made, I'm using maple and bamboo

[@ivatrainghiem1180]

What wood do you use?

[@clayhayeshunter]

Osage orange

[@SouthEastAsiaCountryBoy]

No more fire harden bow video?

[@clayhayeshunter]

Time man, give me time!!

[@win1885]

Are you familiar with Dean Torges?

[@clayhayeshunter]

Yep

[@win1885]

@@clayhayeshunter Had the privilege to meet him at the Denton Hill Trad Archery Rondevous in 2005. True gentleman. Just learned of his passing, in 2016, about a month ago. Congrats on the Alone win!

[@johnbottone4996]

0:02

[@JohnDoe-td2wz]

Have you ever been to Fort Walton beach Florida. More specifically done any roofing in your early 20s there.

[@clayhayeshunter]

Never spent much time down there, mostly Pensacola area. I was on a framing crew in my early 20s though.

[@maytoag231]

You living is Good , congratuletion , may fren

[@maytoag231]

@@HuntGuy101 tour good men i like your Hans , manificus

[@MrSapper36]

Have you ever watched Kramer Ammons he builds bows also just curious

[@anibalperez2802]

Siempre 👍🏽🏹

[@philipsutton2316]

You shouldn't be breathing that bamboo dust Clay - it's quite savage on your lungs.

[@clayhayeshunter]

You’re right

[@rogerledoux4741]

Good video but tight bound would work just fine. You are working way too hard with the glueing. One thing have you heard of new tangled things called clamps, you are making this much more difficult then it should be

[@djacaro]

😁🙌🏾🙏🏾🏹

[@isntimportant]

Never use your thumb as a guide, if the teeth skitter and bounce up enough you'll take your thumb off like I did when I was a lad.