Chasing a ring.....on a board?

[AKmud]

Is it possible or worth messing with?  I have a pretty nice piece of hickory (board) that appears to have a common grain nearly full length.  It is difficult to explain (I'll try some photos), but the grain appears "circular"?  It looks to me like there is a main ring down the board and at a couple of spots, the previous ring has been cut into but only for a short distance.  
 
Would it be worthwhile to try to clean this board up so the back consists of only the one continuous grain?  (I need photos..........   :(   )

[AKmud]

Some pics -

Center area of the board -

   

The ends -

   

   

[Bert Frelink]

Mr Mud,
if you do not have them already invest in the "Bowyers Bible" series of books, 4 in total.
It explains board bows way better than any of us here can.
Looks like a nice piece of wood.
Have fun with your project.
Bert.

[George Tsoukalas]

AK, you have to look on the edge and see whether the grain lines go back to belly. If they do, don't bother to chase a ring. That's a pretty awful board. LOL. There's boar info on my site.    Jawge
 http://georgeandjoni.home.comcast.net/~georgeandjoni/

[John Scifres]

I wouldn't mess with it on hickory.  It is very tolerant of runups.  It can surely be done though if you have the thickness left afterwards.

[bjhaug]

I used a scrap piece of hickory I had layin in the lumber rack.  1 5/8" x 72.  I cut it down to 66 inches long, cut a profile into the belly and down the sides of the limbs, tillered and strung.  Came out to 59lb @ 60 and shoots hard.  I wouldnt worry about chasing the ring if it were me doing it.

[AKmud]

I couldn't get the photo of the side to turn out with enough detail, but the grain runs pretty much full length.  The swirly grain I photographed on the top is what I was thinking of scraping off.  It looks like there may be 4-5 thin grains over a complete one.  If it would benefit my bow, I would take the time to do it, but if it is overkill I will just go ahead with my original plans.  

TBB Volume 4 is on its way  

[sulphur]

hickory is awfully hard to chase a ring on.  if the edges are good then back with linen or something.  like they said hickory is very tolerant.  i've gotten away with some crazy stuff with hickory.

[George Tsoukalas]

AK, choose boards that are straight grained on the face and they will also be straight on the edge. For your first forget gluing ona  riser. Let the handle bend. For 50-55# I allow 2 grain run outs or run ups per limb. You can leave it 1.5 in wide to just past midlim tapering to 1/2 inch nocks. If you want 45-45# you can make the board 1.5 wide. Jawge

[AKmud]

George,

I've actually made 3-4 hickory board bows so far and they have turned out really well. Here are two of my favorites, one is 45# @28" and the other is 57# @ 30" -

   

   

   

I was just curious if there was any benefit to chasing down a ring.  I read a thread over on Stickbow that makes it sound like there isn't really any advantage to chasing a ring if the board is solid.  I think I will just go for it and see what happens.  The side grain looks really good for a couple of 64-66" bows from the 8' board.      

Thanks!

[GaryB]

Wow! They look great.

[George Tsoukalas]

Great bows, AK. Chasing a ring offers no advantage on well chosen board. Jawge

[tommy6]

Ive chased a ring on an osage board to make a 2 piece takedown. It was not that difficult and there was adequate thickness. I believe chasing a ring down a hickory board might well kill your interest in bow making!