Mead LongBows Bamboo Horse Bow User Manual Mead Longbows, LLC. P.O. Box 98 Science Hill, KY 42553 606-423-0063 [email protected] Bow Kits come in many options from ready to use limbs to complete kits ready for assembly. Please understand that if you ordered a U-Finish Bow and/or one of my kits/limbs, short of being there with you, I have done all I can to ensure your success. Take your time and be safe! If you have any questions before starting, don’t hesitate to ask. If it seems like a daunting task, no worries I am here to help! I want you to have the bow you dreamed of having and using. So whether you ordered a U-Finish bow or a DIY kit, for a small fee, you can send it back to me and I will finish it for you. There is no warranty, refunds, or returns on U-Finish Bows, kits, or limb orders. If you break it or damage it during the process, I am still here to help. Contact me and we can work something out. I want this bow to last a lifetime for you. Some of the proven options for glues and bindings to use are as follows: modern -industrial hot melt , high strength epoxy, Titebond glue, fiberglass wrap, synthetic binding material such as polyester and nylon, natural materials such as animal hide glue, sinew for bindings, rawhide, and waterproofed by covering with snake skin, fish skin, or birch bark then finished with spar urethane coatings. When you're dealing with bamboo, leave all of your wood habits and assumptions at the door. The only things it really has in common with wood are that it grows from the ground, and that it's hygroscopic. Regardless if you purchased a completed bow, a rough kit or are building one from scratch using my plans, this manual will help you properly care for your bow. With proper care and maintenance, your new bow will last you a lifetime! My bow look may have changed slightly overtime as I am always trying to improve them. If your bow looks slightly different than the photos in this user’s manual - no worries. These rules still apply. WARNING: It is your responsibility to read all instructions, warranty and disclaimer information before stringing or shooting your bow. Failure to do so may result in injury or property damage and will void warranty. This manual is to be followed for all bows purchased from Mead Longbows. There are specific guidelines and rules within pertaining to the U-finish bows, Finish bows, and Sinew composite bows. These are not what one would consider a wood self bow, and should not be treated as a self bow. How we ship We take great pride in our products, and want you to be happy with your purchase for years to come. We have carefully selected and tested packaging to make sure your Bow kit or finished bow will be safe and sound while in transit to you. If you purchased one of our bow kits, it will ship in a USPS Priority Mail tube as shown below; If you purchased one of our fully functional b ows, it will ship in a strong handmade plywood box. Like the express tube above, its triangular shape will protect your Bow and at the same time prevent items from being stacked on top of it during transit that could potentially cause damage to your bow. The fact that it is also made out of plywood provides yet another level of protection. It is also designed specifically for the size of your bow. No extra room for it to bounce around during transit. To open gently slice the tape on the side of the box as shown in the photo below. The end will hinge open. Before you get started, a word about moisture When first receiving your bow it may be best to let it acclimate to your environment and return to a good moisture content. This is only critical if it spent several days traveling to you. It is a piece of unprotected nature and will react different in unstable temperatures/climates. I ship them out at good moisture content. Keep in mind the time of year in which you ordered your bow. Even though my bamboo resist it, most all bamboo likes to absorb moisture faster than other “wood” especially in an unfinished state. Bamboo is extremely hygroscopic! So keeping it in an ideal controlled climate is best. When it arrives to you in the mail, if you are there to immediately open it and see if is warm or hot to the touch - if so then it probably had a rough time traveling through extreme climate. In this case it is best to let it sit for a few days in a controlled environment. What is a climate controlled environment? Well that would be a room that is controlled by air conditioning and/or heat to stay at a normal acceptable temperature 60-75 degrees F. The relative humidity is the most critical factor. A relative humidity of between 35-50 % is acceptable and is what it should be in all houses/dwellings with heat/air year round. If you get higher than 65% mold begins to form wood begins to expand and fill with moisture - if it gets lower than a certain humidity things begin to dry up, shrink, and crack. So damp basements, cellars, attics, garages, shops, cars, etc is a no no. I store my bows/your bows in a horizontal rack, in my living room which has ac/heat and a dehumidifier to ensure the correct temperature and humidity is always met. Think about it, wood moves, it expands and contracts in different climates. Do you want your bow expanding and contracting? This is why instrument makers have strict guidelines. Special care goes into keeping a mandolin or guitar in good shape for generations… treat your bow with the same respect. Trust me I am not alone in this, composite horn bows have crazy changes that go on in extreme climates and take special care throughout the seasons to ensure they are always ready for action. They also can cost thousands of dollars. I am not asking for much, just treat the piece of nature I am sending you with a little respect and it will perform for you as it should until the day comes you cannot shoot a bow anymore. Note: Bamboo is actually part of the grass family! So I guess you could call this a grass bow! (See below for stringing instructions) On its trip to you, if it took several days or was delayed in customs, it may have picked up moisture or it may have dried out more. Sitting in a postal truck, or on the runway waiting to be loaded, etc...if it was in extreme heat the glue joints could have been compromised and need to rebond/re-cure. This will at least take 24 hours for full cure. If your home is kept at a reasonable temperature year round and around a stable 50% relative humidity then it should be fine in a 5-7 days. It will acclimate to that environment. Just because you have air condition doesn’t mean your humidity levels will be sufficient. They vary from room to room even with central heat and air. You might want to invest in a hygrometer (humidity monitor) they also tell you the temperature of the room. They are like $9 at Wal-Mart. This is a pretty good investment. Way too moist equals slow heavy bow that will take on unwanted string follow (the bow will permanently lose performance, ability to cast arrow as it did when first made). BAMBOO is actually better on the SLIGHTLY drier side 5-7% mc is ideal. A room/place kept around 45% humidity at comfortable temps (55-75 degrees F) is ideal...but as long as it’s kept somewhere around or below 50% relative humidity it will be just fine. I personally build them in my shop and if outside conditions are not correct the bow will spend a week to 10 days in my climate controlled bow rack before it gets shipped out to a customer. Bows should never be stored in hot places or by ANY heat source. Avoid non-climate controlled environments as much as possible except of course when using your bow outdoors. It is also smart to avoid unnecessary direct sunlight. Just remember it is not a piece of fiberglass. If any of this sounds crazy to you, I understand but trust me it is worth it and very much justified. This bow is kind of a composite hybrid...and needs some special care. All primitive weapons do. Take a look at some other "care guidelines" from primitive self bow makers, longbow makers, yumi care, composite horn bows, and you will see my rules for care are right in line with theirs. Get a finish on it as soon as possible to prevent drastic moisture content changes. This will also adhere the thread bindings down to the wood and keep them from fraying. The more your bow is exposed to nature in an unprotected state the more chance there is that the bow may be damaged. Note: Keep in mind the bamboo rind has blemishes, sometimes a lot! You may be tempted to sand them down, etc..Leave it alone! I would not send out a bow that I wouldn’t hunt with myself.