fresh cut board bow

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Tomorrow a friend is cutting down a hickory tree and wants me to make a bow from it. He said he wants to cut out a board for the bow.... after cutting (de crowned) to about a true 2"X2"X75". Should I seal the back & sides or can it be dried with out sealing. I was going to start ruffing out the bow ,If I can after cutting to size.

[George Tsoukalas]

I'd rough it out to near bow dimensions. It's less likely to warp. I'd sand the back glassy smooth, stain it if you want and seal it with what you intend to use for your finish. No need to seal the sides. Jawge

[**DONOTDELETE**]

kool, can I do the same if I keep it crowned?

[George Tsoukalas]

Yes, you sure can. In fact, I always advise against decrowning. It's tough to do a good job at it. When the back dips the belly has to also. I prefer to leave heavily crowned staves an inch or 2 longer.  I forgot to mention the roughing the stave out green is easier and the stave will dry faster. Have fun. Jawge

[John Scifres]

Is he having the whole thing milled?  If not, just split a stave out, rough it to near bow dimensions and make it less than 5/8" thick.  Leave the tips and handle full width while it dries.

If he is having it all milled, I'd defer to the judgment of the sawyer on how to best do it.  Generally, the thinner the better for fast drying.   I'd ask if he can have a plane sawn board milled to 5/8" from the straightest, cleanest portion of the tension side of the tree.  Make it 2" wide and 72" long.

[Can Hahaka]

Okay - now I am confused - Why don't you need a backing like on a "board bow"?

[**DONOTDELETE**]

He is going to square it with a band saw , table saw & a planner.... I ruffed out a bow today for my wife... I sealed the ends & back and have it clamped to a straight board, I'll leave it there till next month & finish it. looking to get 40#@24".....the stave is just a little snakey... I still have more staves to split... the longs are 80+ inches...