The backward bows that ya'all are referring to, were split out of the log so that the ring structure bearing the tension load was of a quarter sawn nature. Not one ring. The structure of osage and other ring porous woods is not an immediate delineation between the early and late growth of the same years ring. It is actually a somewhat gradual transition from the extremely porous early wood to the dense late wood. What that means is, even if you remove the early wood from the belly side of the ring, the late wood will still be more porous (weaker) than the outside of the ring that formed at the end of the annual growth. So...not a good idea. You would be better off chasing the concave side of the ring in the traditional manner and making sure that you maintained even thickness across the limb so that the higher portions (outside edges) are not bearing the brunt of the tension load. It is a pain to chase a concave ring, but you will have better results if you do. Just my .02 Josh
