Cheap Hickory backing strips

[Matthew D]

I was wondering if anyone knows of a good place to get cheap hickory backing strips...

[Pat B]

If you can find good hickory lumber, cut your own. You can probably buy a 4/4 or 6/4 piece for what you pay for a backing strip. Lots of strips in a piece of lumber.   Pat

[Matthew D]

I had thought about that.. how close do I need to look at the grain, would it be like looking at one for a bow?

[Pat B]

I ordered some backing strips a few years back from a guy in Lousiana and when I got them the grain was greatly violated. I used the backing strips and never had a failure but if you are gonna cut your own, you want the best grain you can get. What I bought was bias grained(//////) and the grain lines ran the length of the board with very few run-offs. You can get by with grain run-offs if they aren't too severe. Pat