Backing a Self Bow - When and Why?

[Drewster]

I see postings and discussions often about backing a self bow with rawhide, linen and other materials.  I know that backing a bow with sinew can add weight and cast, but when and why is it advantageous to back a self bow otherwise.

I have a hickory stave drying that was harvested in August.  The bark peeled off nicely and the cambium layer has been coated with shellac.  The outer rings are very thin and wavy and I'm thinking that this stave might be a good candidate for backing after cleaning up the cambium layer.  

Your advice and help is appreciated.

[mwosborn]

Backing will add some protection against a splinter lifting.  Many will back a bow in which they think this might happen (grain run off etc.)

Rawhide also makes a nice canvas for art work for those wanting to do so.

A hickory stave that has a clean back most likely would not need backed.  If there are "issues" with it then you could back it.

[Pat B]

A clear hickory back from right under the bark is as good as bow backs get. I only back a selfbow if I think there might be issues like very thin rings and/or lots of knots.

[LittleBen]

I'm with Pat. I've never had to back a hickory selfbow.

I have one (possibly favorite) hickory bow thats 62" long, near 2" wide, and draws about 45# @ 25". The back is ugly, roughly finished, gouged scratched, and dented and it's never given me a single complaint. Granted it's fairly overbuilt for draw weight and length.

Especially wiht a toasted belly, Hickory really makes a fantastic self bow

[Drewster]

OK guys, thanks.  I certainly don't want to do any unnecessary work.

[Pat B]

Drewster, You will have to remove the cambium. It will fall off anyway since the hickory was summer cut. With winter cut wood the cambium will stick hard and when you scrape it off some remains in the valleys on the back and it makes pretty good camo.

[George Tsoukalas]

The only wood I back automatically is yew. The others I only back if the back is in peril.

I almost never back.
I won't hunt with a backed bow.

Beginners may want  to back their first few.

Jawge

[Sam Harper]

Jawge, have you ever made a self bow out of easter red cedar?  Most people seem to back them, but I read somewhere (I can't remember where) about somebody make them up to 50 or 60 lbs without backing them and not having any problem.  He said as long as you leave some of the sap wood on there, you don't need to back it.  I haven't tried it myself but thought I might experiment with it.

[Pat B]

Sam, that depends on knots too. Knots are usually the leading cause of death for an ERC bow. ERC sapwood seems to be similar to yew sapwood as far as bow backs go.  You can even make an all sapwood ERC bow with good results. I saw an all ERC sapwood ELB style bow that pulled 45# that was a fantastic shooter.

[LittleBen]

Sam,

Clear ERC without a knotty back (extremely rare) does not need to be backed. But it should be wider to be tension safe. I'd say 2" wide for a 66" bow and 28" draw.

I had one that lasted for quite some time at 62" long and 45# @ 25" and it was not a pristine stave by any measure. I wouldn't go unbacked again unless it was really clear.

[Pat B]

I think I'd back any ERC bow I built with rawhide just to be safe. I had one ERC bow blow an it was quite exciting and I had another one give out but both the top and bottom limbs folded at the same time about at mid limb. I was watching it being drawn by a friend and it was weird seeing it fold like that. he latter was rawhide backed.

[mwosborn]

Yep Pat - just like this one.  Tried making an all heartwood erc.  Blew just past 25" of draw -both limbs same time - should have kept it at 25".    :mad:    :p  

 
 IMG_0154  by  mwosborn1 , on Flickr

 
 IMG_0155  by  mwosborn1 , on Flickr

 
 IMG_0156  by  mwosborn1 , on Flickr

[Pat B]

Very similar to where that bow broke but my bow just collapsed. The belly crushed.

[LittleBen]

I've had a fair amount of success with ERC when sinew backed. You should still look for a clear stave, but sinew really holds things together. I also still keep em fairly wide even sinew backed ... maybe nearly 2" wide.

[mwosborn]

I agree Ben - the erc that I have that are still shooting are sinew backed.  Still want to make a long one without sinew though.

[George Tsoukalas]

No,Sam, I never did but that is another I would back automatically.
Jawge