hickory scraps and back ???

[hedgeapple]

I have a piece of hickory left over from splitting a stave to make a bow.  I'm thinking about using if for backing for a sassafras bow.  Should a chase a ring for the hickory backing?
Dave

[Pat B]

Cut it with a bias grain(////) if possible. If not, flat grain will work. You don't necessarily have to follow a ring with hickory backings but it is best to.

[hedgeapple]

Thanks Pat B, Thats kinda what I thought.  I just hadn't read anything about ring chasing for bow backing.  I'm applying the greed factor to this stave somewhat.  So far, I've gotten one bow, roughed out another (a shorter d-bow) and plannig to use the belly split for the backing of sassafras bow, from this stave. 

The sassafras board was given to me by a close friend, who cut it and sawed it himself.  He made a chest from the rest of the wood and this was the last piece he had.  It's been curing for about 7 years in his shop.  I'd like to do everything possible to make this board a bow.  So spending a few hours chasing the grain on the hickory for backing will be time well spent.
Dave