Bent Wood Backing Question

[Robyn Hode]

I am getting ready to make a Hickory backed Osage bow. It will probably be around 68" long with slightly re-flexed tips, 1.5" at the fades and out six inches on the limb then taped to 1/2" tips. I want the draw weight to be 50 pounds. I will be using unibond 800 for the glue up.

The Osage is around 68 1/2" long and 5/8" thick and the hickory backing is 72" long and 1/8" thick.

Now for the problem....the hickory backing is bent (arched sideways) almost an inch in the middle.

What is the best way to straighten the hickory?

1. Dry Heat?
2. Steam?
3. Cut the hickory and splice it back together
   at glue up?
4. Buy or make another hickory backing and
   use the bent one in the smoker?

I planned on using this bow for hunting so I'm OK with shortening the bow as well.

Thanks in advance,
Bill

[Dan Landis]

By sideways do you mean across the width of the backing, if so how wide is it?  If it is arched that much across the width I would not use it, but that being said, I don't have a lot of experience with hickory backings, just my opinion.

[Roy from Pa]

#3

[Pat B]

You can go a couple of ways with this.
 If the backing strip is wide enough you can lay the bow out, centered on the backing strip and trim off the excess backing along the sides.
 You can cut and splice the backing strip to straighten it out. A scarf joint works for splicing the backing and I'd put an overlay over the joint.
  Or just cut another backing strip.

[Robyn Hode]

I like the scarf joint idea. I'm going to cut the hickory and splice it back together.

Thanks everyone