Bark On Selfbow?

[Bear Heart]

Does anyone know if you can leave the bark on while making a hickory selfbow?  I have read that you can back a bow with wild cherry bark.

[mmgrode]

I wouldn't recommend it.  It would look neat, but hickory bark won't hold up to the tension on the back.  It will also make the bow sluggish with all that extra mass from the bark on the limbs.  Take off the bark and cambium layer, then you'll be set. But hey, don't let me stop you if you want to try it!  Good luck, Matt

[onemississipp]

You can leave the cambium layer for a nice looking pattern on the back.

[John Scifres]

I've done it.  It will probably crack.  The cracks I've had didn't chase down into the working wood but the bark came off.  If you decide to leave a bit of the cambrium, that's OK, just don't leave much more than the first layer or it too will crack.

[Bear Heart]

Since I live in rainy western Washington maybe an unbacked hickory bow would be the way to go.

[George Tsoukalas]

Remove it as best you can. You can leave a bit of the inner bark or cambium on as John said. Jawge