Hickory how to ????

[skeaterbait]

How does one go about "just removing" the bark. As near as I can tell it's like "just removing" a layer of concrete from your driveway.

Any helpful hints or pictorials?

[Pat B]

Hickory should be harvested during the growing season. Then the bark and cambium come off real easy and whats under is your back.  For winter cut wood you'll have to use a draw knife and scraper with a lot of elbow grease. A little bit of the cambium on the back makes for good camo.  
   I have heard of some folks putting the stave in a hot shower and that helps soften the bark and cambium but it adds moisture and you'll have to wait for it to dry before you build your bow.   Pat

[Dano]

I can hear Lonnie sayin "now ya tell me!!!"  

[Lost Arra]

Wonderful.
I've got a perfectly straight hickory stave with the bark still on THAT IS THREE YEARS OLD.    

How about bandsawing the bark off?

[skeaterbait]

You got that right Dano!

Actually these were cut and given to me but I do have a guy that will allow me to cut more. I guess I will wait until spring? or should it be later in the summer?

[KyGal]

If it is good wood, go on and use the bandsaw. I have been shooting an experiment since June. I made a Delaware style longbow out of a strip ripped off the underside of a regular stave, with zero attention to the growth rings. It shoots well too. I made it to see if what was said about hickory's tolerance for growth ring abuse was true. It seems to be. The big tip I think made the difference was somebody here was talking about cooking hickory belly wood. So the bow is finished with paraffin and every once in a while I heatgun more into it. My previous hick stick was a dog, and this scrap piece is shooting great. Hmmm

When you spring or summer cut hickory, immediately peel the bark. Your maul/sledge can be handy to pulverize the first 6 in. or so of bark, then it should start peeling pretty easy.

[George Tsoukalas]

I just made one. I draw knifed the bark off. Take your time. If you cut through the grain you have to chase a ring. Most of the time hickory rings are tiny. Some soak the stave in the shower and then the bark comes off easily. Jawge

[skeaterbait]

Thanks all. I think I messed up on the first stave, as George warned against, so I am going to cut it near dimension, chase the ring and put it on a call to finish curing. Barring too many more screw up's on my part it should make a decent pyramid.

[Pat B]

If it is thin ringed and you violate a ring you can add a simple backing for protection. Brown paper bag, silk, linen and many other materials will work. I use Tite-Bond glue for these backings.
   A few years ago I bought some hickory backing strips from a guy and they had terrible grain violations. I glued up 5 or 6 bows with this backing and as far as I know, none have come apart. Like KYGAL said, hickory is tough stuff and in my experience a bit of grain violation shouldn't hurt anything...if they aren't too drastic.   Pat