KABOOM!!

[Widowbender]

Well my first attempt at boyering (is that a word?) hit a little snag this morning...It Blew up!!! I definitely learned a lot on this one...was close to final tiller and top limb said POW at about 26" of draw...Its a good thing that my father-in-law owns a sawmill...Even though everything was shaping up well, I was not too surprised because of the grain in that board was a little suspect...I have a few boards picked out for bows that have better grain, but I already had that red oak board and thought it would be a good one to practice on. So know I have two hickory boards and gum that have perfect grain and I'm gonna lay out another one today...Its a good thing they are sawing red oak again on Monday...

David

[Apex Predator]

If you ain't breakin', you ain't buildin'!  Get back in the saddle.

[Widowbender]

Thanks, Apex...I'm glad it broke now 'cause I was gonna' be shootin' it in a few days and that would have been ugly...I hope to have another on cut out and handle glued on by this afternoon...I think I'm gonna try the gum next...

David

[Pat B]

As long as you learned something it wasn't a waste of time. With suspect wood a simple backing, either silk, linen or brown paper will help or better yet a hickory backing. I have made some very nice, hard hitting bows from hickory and red oak with hickory backings.    Pat

[Widowbender]

How thick do you cut Hickory backing and does grain pattern make a difference in the backing? I did a rough cut out on my sweet gum board but its still to wet to work yet so I'm gonna seal the ends and let it dry some more...I have a couple of hickory boards drying as well...maybe roughing those into bows...I don't have anything here that's dry enough so I may be headed to the store...

David

[Pat B]

I usually cut hickory backing strips a little over 3/16" and by the time you dress up both sides it comes out about 1/8" or a bit less. I like the grain on the end of the strip to go like this (/////) and run the length of the backing strip. I have used hickory backing strips that had terrible violations and never had a backing failure but if you are cutting your own you are better off doing it the best way. I think the way the wood was handled from the time it was taken off the stump until the strips are cut has as much to do with it's strength. White woods, like hickory, are very susceptible to fungi and only a few days on the ground can ruin the wood...and you may not know it until it is too late.   Pat