BBO vs HBO can I use the same plan?

[Zradix]

Hey Guys,

Getting the itch to try another bow.
I made my first r/d BBO a while back and it's still shooting well.      

I did have a splinter come up in the bow while tillering and the whole splinter thing has me looking it over all the time to check for more.

Anyway, I'm thinking of doing a hickory backed osage.
Possibly using the same fairly R/D heavy form as my last bow.

Leaning towards hickory as I've read it to be a tougher backing than boo....though that might just be BS.

So...
Can I just take the hickory down to about 1/8" and glue things down in the same form as I did before?
...while using the same thickness and width dimensions as I did before for the belly osage?

Or is there something I'm totally missing something about hickory not working like boo.

Thanks a Lot.

John

[Roy from Pa]

I don't care, it's your bow..    

But I would taper the Hickory backing too, like ya did the Boo.

[Bowjunkie]

You could taper the hickory, but you don't have to. I've done it both ways.

Everything else is done pretty much the same. In some ways hickory is a better and easier backing to use.

[Black Mockingbird]

Yup...do it the same...only difference is boo is more aesthetically pleasing to me

[Zradix]

Thanks guys.

Is the hickory backing from Pine Hollow any good?
The picture on the site looks pretty knotty.

[John Scifres]

Bamboo has been better for me from a performance standpoint.  But hickory is definitely more user friendly from a prep standpoint.  I would have a hard time accepting that good bamboo, properly prepared, is not as tough as hickory.

I have used the same type form (from Dean Torges' video "Hunting the Bamboo Backed Bow") on hickory backed bows.  I'd definitely pre-taper both the backing and  the core as that seems to help get the bend right during glue-up.  If you aren't doing and R/D, the pre-tapering doesn't really seem to matter as much.

[Zradix]

Thanks for the insight John.
I would like to taper both.
I can definitely see how boo's crown helps to naturally taper the thickness as you taper the width.

Won't have that visual aid when working hickory...just need to measure more I guess.


This will be for a r/d bow.
Here's a pic of the form..
 

Now I don't have much experience at all.
None with hickory.
Only worked 3 pcs of boo from 2 different suppliers.
Pc#1  I can't speak for too much as the belly wood was bad and the bow has never been shot.

pc#2 was cracked across the "grain" and wasn't used.

Pc#3 is on my current bow that shoots nice. However it did splinter during tillering at a spot with no visible flaws and still had the "skin" on it.

I guess I'm hoping for a little less worry.

I think I agree that good bamboo is good stuff.
It seems to be very strong stuff.
..but also in my limited experience seems to have hidden surprises.

I don't really know if it's any tougher than hickory or not.
Maybe hickory has the same problems.

John..
You say boo has been better for you in the performance dept.
Does it seem to just be faster? Or are there other aspects of performance that you found boo to help with?

If talking speed...is it a 5fps difference or more like 10-15?

Thanks a lot!
I really appreciate the help.

[John Scifres]

Faster.  But only from a subjective measure.  It also seems to have less thump.  My understanding is that it is so much stronger in tension that you can get away with a lot less material, therefore a lot less mass, therefore a lot less thump.  Again, purely subjective.  Science hurts my head.

[Bowjunkie]

I've mostly found the same to be true. Hickory is a lot heavier than bamboo as well.

I much prefer bamboo for backing too, and havent had one raise a splinter in a long time (knock on wood) but I'm sure I'll make more hickory backed bows some day.

[Black Mockingbird]

The choice in material has less to do with performance than the person operating the vehicle  

[Zradix]

Thank you Gents.

Didn't realize hickory was so much heavier than boo.
I no I've been surprised at how heavy the bamboo stakes that I'm making arrows from are.

I can understand having to use more/thicker hickory as a backing adds more weight..how much who knows..it's pretty a thin layer.

..but more weight is more weight none the less.

[Zradix]

Originally posted by Black Mockingbird:
The choice in material has less to do with performance than the person operating the vehicle    

I'm not much of a race car driver..but I do pretty good off road...lol

[Roy from Pa]

If you want a sweet looking finish on the Hickory backing, after you stain it, sand it back off lightly and the softer grain will soak up more stain than the harder grain and it gives the bow a sweet vein looking appearance. Then stain again lightly.

Like this below.
   

[4runr]

That looks ok, I guess.

[Roy from Pa]

Kenny remind me to thump ya when we meet up at the WV shoot the end of August:)

[Bowjunkie]

It's not THAT much heavier.

You can make the hickory thinner than 1/8" too. I've made it as thin as 1/16" to keep it from crushing woods like cherry and walnut.

[Zradix]

that does look pretty nice....hhmmmm

[Zradix]

is Pine Hollow's hickory backing any good?
The pic on their site looks pretty knotty.

Thanks

[Bowjunkie]

I've never gotten hickory backings from Mike, but have dealt with him on other struff, and he's a stand up guy. Call or email him and tell him you're ONLY interested in hickory that is quartersawn, perfectly clear and with little to no runouts. If he doesn't have what you want, look elsewhere.

[Zradix]

sounds fair enough.