Hickory backing question

[tarheel bower]

When it comes to hickory backing does it matter what direction the grain is running? Is the backing I purchase from 3 rivers cut with the grain running down the length.

[Pat B]

Ideally you want the cleanest quarter sawn(bias grain) backing strips you can get, however I've used hickory backing strips that had terrible violations and none ever failed.
  If someone is selling hickory backing strips for $18 to $20 each they should be the best you can buy!  I bought a 8/4"x 6" x10' hickory board from a specialty lumber company and made lots of 1/8"x2"x6' backing strips and lots of 1/8"x2"x4' backing strips to be spliced at the handle for about $30.

[tarheel bower]

Thanks, That's why I was asking, I have means to a lot of hickory boards and can cut the backing myself, I just did not want to go through the trouble for nothing. When you spice 2 pieces together at the handle did you overlay something on the spice?

[Pat B]

Yes, I made a scarf joint and overlaid a short piece of wood that I shaped to fill out the back of the handle to make it more comfortable. I usually do this with leather anyway but the wood really helps with the strength of the joint. If it is non-bending handle it probably isn't necessary but I'd do it anyway.

[hova]

Originally posted by Pat B:
Ideally you want the cleanest quarter sawn(bias grain) backing strips you can get, however I've used hickory backing strips that had terrible violations and none ever failed.
  If someone is selling hickory backing strips for $18 to $20 each they should be the best you can buy!  I bought a 8/4"x 6" x10' hickory board from a specialty lumber company and made lots of 1/8"x2"x6' backing strips and lots of 1/8"x2"x4' backing strips to be spliced at the handle for about $30.

so what about a piece that is pretty much the edge of a plain sawn piece? i have a piece of hickory , but the grain looks like puddles... know what i mean?

i was going to back it with silk , trap the back , then use maple on the belly.

[Pat B]

Why not trap the limbs, heat treat the belly, silk back it and go with a selfbow.
  If I had any straight grain configurationI would use it for backing strips.  I bought some from a guy in Louisiana a few years back that had terrible grain violations with islands and valleys in them. Not one of them failed on bellies of osage or ipe.

[okie64]

I've never had a plain sawn backing strip break but I've had failures with several hickory edge ringed backings. I think with plain sawn backings its easier to read the grain. With edge ringed wood you have to look at the face and the narrow side of the board to look for violations.