first hickory bow

[shiraforge]

Hey all. new to the site just getting reinterested in making bows. I'm working with a small hickory stave and I think I compromised the single growth ring on the back. I was thinking about backing it with rawhide.  Any input helpful.

Thanks,

Matthew Shirey

[RyanY]

Hickory can take grain violation probably better than any other wood but there's always a limit. Without seeing a pic it's hard to say whether its necessary to back it or not. If you have enough wood you could just go down a ring. If the stave has a high crown I'd worry more than if it had a flat back. Also how does the ring violation look? Is it in one spot or does it go all the way across the back?

[George Tsoukalas]

Chase a ring if you can. If you can't, back it. Jawge

[Pappy]

What Jawge said. Good luck and be sure and let us know how she turnes out.
   Pappy

[shiraforge]

Thanks ya'll  I let ya know what happens.   

Matthew

[Buckeye Guy]

Welcome to PA
Hickory will take a lot of abuse so give us a pic if you can.
It'll most likely still work but if you have plenty of thickness you can try chasing the next ring.
No mater what you will soon be addicted any way !!!

[JW_Halverson]

I've backed a few hickory with thin rawhide and have been pleased with the durability.  I have even picked hickory boards with a little too much grain runout for my preference and salvaged with a rawhide backing.  Since this is fairly new to you, go ahead and back it even if it is just there to keep your confidence high. 

Good luck.