Hickory Question?

[Red Tailed Hawk]

Just harvested some hickory, tree is about 6" diameter. I removed the bark which came off real easy, a lot easier than I expected. I sealed ends with titebond III. Do I need to seal back as well?

I did not split this stave, I think I will only be able to get one bow out of it. It's just a round stave without the bark on it at this point.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I have built board bows but am new at this.

[Steve B.]

I would have left the bark on, sealed the ends, split the log, and not sealed the exposed wood.  After several weeks of slow drying I would remove the bark and worked the stave a little, then let it dry some more, and so on.
In your case I would seal it.

[SportHunter]

I'd seal it ASAP.

[macbow]

I agree on sealing the back. I would have removed the bark like you did.

[okie64]

If you split it you dont have to seal the back but you could anyways if you wanted to just to be on the safe side. If you dont split it I would seal it with shellac. I've cut and peeled a lot of hickory and havent seen one check yet, I do seal most of mine with shellac though. If it has any knots where limbs protruded thats usually where wood will check at while drying. It will dry much faster if you split it now.

[Pat B]

The quicker you get the moisture evaporation out of the wood the better. I'd split it in half and seal the ends like okie suggested. Hickory dopesn't usually check like other woods.
  You should be able to get at least 2 staves from a 6" log if it is clear wood.

[Red Tailed Hawk]

Thanks guys I think I will play it safe and seal the back.
What would be the best way to split the hickory and will it split better while it's green?

[Roy from Pa]

Split it with wedges and a sledge hammer. Yes it will split a heck of a lot easier when green and dry way faster if split.

[George Tsoukalas]

You did well to remove the bark. If you did't remove the bark within  a week I would have liked to be there to record all the new curse words you've made up. I never seal the back on a whitewood. Jawge

[beetlebailey1977]

Split it peel the back and seal the ends......no need to seal the back.

[George Tsoukalas]

Split it and seal the ends. No need to leave the bark on or seal the back. In fact, you'll wish you didn't. LOL. I had to chase a ring or 2 o thin ringed hackory after marring the back when trying to remove the bark on a stave that had the bark cemented to it.