Hickory backed IPE

[bigcountry]

Just got a plank of IPE from a flooring place.  I need some sort of backing.  I was planning on boo, but hickory is an option.  Does the hickory backing need to have perfect grain from end to end?  If it doesn't, can it lift a splinter like a backing of a selfbow?  Seems like a huge expectations to find a piece of hickory that is perfect straight grain end to end.

[Auggie]

Ive seen quarter sawn hick used,you might want to check out what the advertisers on PA sell and that would give you lots of info.

[Ryano]

Quarter sawed with the least amount of grain run offs is the way to go for hickory backings.  Just look for the same kind of thing you would want for a board bow.

[Cooper]

The hickory backing I used was just sawed from a board with standing rings.

[bigcountry]

I have a whole bunch of hickory staves drying.  I wonder if I can get backing off that.  I rarely see hickory boards. 

Can someone explain what quarter saw is?  Sorry for the dense questions.  I can definately see how someone could get a good backing from a straight grained perfect board. 

[crumrw]

In the image look how the grain runs through the board.  On a quartersawn borad.  The rings go perpendicular to the long width of the board, if that makes sense.  As you can see in the other types of cuts, you might get a few boards that are plainsawn or riftsawn that look like quarter sawn boards.  Quartersawn and riftsawn are typical more expensive because you get a smaller number of boards from each log, but you get a more consistent grain pattern and you only have to worry about run off on the thin side of the board.  I usually look through the plainsawn boards at the home depot or the like, and can usually find a few boards that have the quartersawn grain pattern.

Rick

[crumrw]

Wow, I need to double check my spelling and grammar before posting apparently!! ...sorry

[bigcountry]

Thanks Crum, great explanation