I harvested a hickory tree last October. I knew it was a little late, but it was one of those deals of now or never. So over the winter, I removed the bark on 4 staves. I then removed the cambian layer to the white wood. I was told this weekend by a bowyer, that I ruined those staves. He told me I am supposed to leave all the cambian layer (brown stuff) on. But I see folks with a camo look from removing parts of the cambian layer letting the whitewood show thru.
Did I ruin these staves or make them so they need backed? I don't think I went thru the first ring of the whitewood.