BBRO board bow question

[southernwoody]

I'm building a boo backed red oak board bow then backing the whole thing with rattle snake. It's 68" AMO long and I'm shooting for 50#@28. My question is should I cut it to center or leave it uncut and shoot it with a leather strip rest on the side of the bow. Can I get the pros and cons of both please.

[Pat B]

First off, in my opinion red oak is not a good candidate for a boo backing. It just doesn't have the compression strength needed for a boo backing.
  It doesn't matter whether you have a cut in shelf or not if you use properly spined arrows for the bow and your style of shooting.
 I grew up in Savannah and live there until 1978 when we moved to Bluffton, SC. I graduated from BC but you probably wouldn't believe if you saw me today. d;^)

[macbow]

Totally agree with Pat.
If you've already glued it and tillered it it would depend,on handle thickness if you have the strength to cut it in some.

I certainly would not use the snake skin on a questionable combo. Save it for a really neat build.

[Bowjunkie]

I too agree with these guys.

If I may add, in order to minimize the crushing effect of the boo on the oak, make sure you get the bamboo as thin as possible, wring out every available inch of working limb, make every inch do its part from dips to tips, keep the stiff handle section relatively short, and you could utilize a trapezoid cross section to help also...I.e. narrow the boo on the back while leaving the oak on the belly wider.

[southernwoody]

Thanks guys

[John Scifres]

A narrow handle or skill in tuning arrows to bow will accomplish the same goal as a cut in rest.  i.e. good, efficient arrow flight.  

But, as long as you leave the handle thick enough that it doesn't bend (and break), it really is a matter of personal preference as to whether or not to cut in a rest.  

I see a lot of new guys who try to cut in a rest and they usually look pretty inelegant.  They try to force a cut out rest on a selfbow style handle.  If you are going to do it, design your bow that  way.  Look closely at the dimensions and looks of a modern locator style handle and make sure you have enough wood to mimic that.

[Roy from Pa]

I would not cut in an arrow shelf on a wood bow ever.

[Art B]

That's cause you don't know how Roy Bubby!  

[critman]

LOL!  

[GURUof82]

I have done several boo backed red oak bows exactly as described above  i was told it couldnt be done so naturally I had to try.  haven't had one fail yet with weights from 45-70# @28".