Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: BowEd on February 25, 2016, 08:29:35 am

Title: Hickory back
Post by: BowEd on February 25, 2016, 08:29:35 am

Just a quick check on something I hav'nt tried yet here.Got a nice hickory stave that's very fine ringed.Pig nut I think.Bark was draw knifed off and it's violated here and there.It's tough stuff I know but maybe I should put a rawhide cover on it ya think?

Title: Re: Hickory back
Post by: Pat B on February 25, 2016, 10:07:04 am

Ed, I.ve made lots of hickory backed bows with terrible grain violations and never had a back failure. That said I think I would use a rawhide backing on a hickory stave with grain violations. Don't ask me why. I know I'm contradicting myself.

Title: Re: Hickory back
Post by: sapling bowyer on February 25, 2016, 12:00:21 pm

I would go for it.  You never know when a bow will explode

Title: Re: Hickory back
Post by: DarkSoul on February 25, 2016, 12:09:33 pm

Post a picture to show the extend of the damage.

You may be just fine. Or you could chase a ring. Or you could apply a backing.

Title: Re: Hickory back
Post by: bubby on February 25, 2016, 12:17:51 pm

I'm with Pat Ed, if you have to ask back it and rawhide is a great medium for artwork

Title: Re: Hickory back
Post by: Mo_coon-catcher on February 25, 2016, 04:08:35 pm

If they're not bad violations you can probably get away with smoothingit out and feathering the violations so they spread over a bit of distance.

Kyle

Title: Re: Hickory back
Post by: Springbuck on February 25, 2016, 04:38:48 pm

  Fine grained ring porous wood is pretty easy to chase a ring on, too, usually.  Just use a scraper, not a cutting tool.

Title: Re: Hickory back
Post by: BowEd on February 26, 2016, 12:42:18 am

Thanks fellas......It is a very fine grained thing.Intermittent grain violation swirls here and there.Be a real pain to chase one ring.The undulations and all make it that way.It'll take forever....lol.Guess I'm a wooos but so be it....lol.Feel as though it's like a decrowning job,and then I'd rawhide that.I know practically everyone has taken a piece of hickory and tried to break it for kindling and it'll take a terrific bend before breaking but I'm gonna go with my gut on this one.Could take it to brace though first with no big bending then heat treat it and then put the rawhide on.
I've got some really thin yearling dry scraped deer hide.Guess I could call it clarified deer skin.Maybe could stain it first with an alcohol dye then put the rawhide on.It's one of those reaction dried reflexed type staves.About 3 years old I guess.Got wrangled into this bow trade thing and got 4 bows getting ready for the string maybe more.

Title: Re: Hickory back
Post by: Pappy on February 26, 2016, 04:46:39 am

I have done a ton of Hickory and yes it is tough  to break but not that tough to life a splinter, I would rawhide back it if it was mine. :)
 Pappy

Title: Re: Hickory back
Post by: BowEd on February 26, 2016, 07:33:13 am

My thoughts exactly Pap.

Title: Re: Hickory back
Post by: bradsmith2010 on February 26, 2016, 01:05:14 pm

yes the rawhide would be good and it looks nice too,, no way to go wrong putting it on,, adds a nice contrast to the hickory,,