Hickory heartwood question

[jturner]

Does it really matter if you use heartwood hickory? I was always told only white hickory will work but I have heard latley that you can use both. does it make a difference if it is for a backing strip vs board bow? anyone have pics of some bows with both in them?

[Pappy]

I mostly use the white wood but have made a few from the heart wood also.It just seems to be a little more brittle but will work.
   Pappy

[Grunt]

I've made heartwood board bows but I have always backed them with a hard backing like a sap wood strip. I think for backing strips you want sap wood.

[Bowskin]

right before my accident i was running some test on the subject of thi very question. i made backing strips edge ring and some self bows edge ring with half heart wood and full heart wood(plus full sap wood for the control) after i heal some more I'll deliver my results