I need help with board stave...have pics

[briarjumper12]

I ain't had good luck with board staves yet.  The one that I thought was going to make it broke while stringing and after I regained my senses I swore off boards.  But alas, here I go again.  I can't be beat by a mere board.
This one is hickory, 72" long right now.  2" wide by 1 13\\16 thick with some reflex.  I've got some pics for ya'll to look at.  
How can I make a bow outta this?  Without taking the bark off for the back I am having trouble establishing where the back needs to be.  If ya'll can help me figure that out I think I can do it from there.  
Thanks everybody
John
 

 

 

 

 

 

[razorback]

Consider using side 1 or 2 as the back. Too many ring violations in the flat sawn bark side of that board. Or you could back it with a piece of quarter sawn hickory or bamboo. If you have the tools take a 3/16 slice off of the best side (straightest grain) and use that for our backing. I believe that 1 3/4 is plenty wide for Hickory. Good luck and post plenty of pics.

[fish n chicks]

IMO side 1 of end one as back, with end 1 as top as well. Only cause the knots, which are pretty hard to see, give me the heebee jeebees. Some pics of those can help for sure. Otherwise I would've liked the curve of the grain to pull with my axis of draw, rather than against (right handed). I am still a rookie at this stuff, but from what i've worked with so far, that's what I would like to do with that billet. Backing would be awesome, but I suck at it so I don't usually do it. Definitely has costed me bows thanks to knots.

Great find. Looking forward to the results.

[briarjumper12]

I am considering backing.  I haven't backed one yet so I thought this one might be a good candidate.  Bamboo from 3rivers might be what I go with.  What suggestions would you folks have on the backing material other than boo or hickory?
If I decide to back it, would it be ok to use the bark side as the back so as to keep the reflex in the direction it needs to be.
That piece is the middle part of 2x8 board so I could saw out a 3/16 quarter sawn piece out of what was left to use as the backing strip couldn't I.

[John Scifres]

I wouldn't make a selfbow with that one.

You are stuck with using it in the plain sawn position I think.  By that I mean bark side as the part you glue your backing to.  That is unless you want your belly to be part heart wood and part sapwood.

I think "yes" on your final question re: sawing out a backing strip.

[George Tsoukalas]

There are 3 rules to making bows with boards. The first rule is the grain should be straight. The second rule is the grain should be straight. Guess what the third rule is? LOL. I agree with, John. The grain needs to be straight and there can be no knots not even tiny ones. There is much more info on my site.    Jawge
 http://georgeandjoni.home.comcast.net/~georgeandjoni/