eastern red cedar backing question

[gutpile]

first erc stave..very clean no knots..62 inches long 1 7/8 wide tapered to 5/8 at nock for now... My question is...how far would you till bow before backing it..never done a rawhide backing, done plenty of sinew jobs and that is what I am leaning toward.. I am thinking I can longstring till to about 18 inches...maybe 20..I do not want to brace bow till backed...had a maple backed erc board bow blow bracing after I long tilled it..it was stressed to max r/d design ..ended up being a pin knot in backing that blew... was trying to build it too heavy also..lol...if you aint breaking you aint making..lol...

[Josh B]

I back em at low brace.  That way I have a good idea how the string is tracking and have made necessary adjustments before gluing on the rawhide.  Josh

[lukelawrence171]

From my experience eastern red cedar is a very brittle wood I have had some in unbacked bows last forever and some break as soon as I bent them to put a string on I would back it before anything else just to be safe

[Pat B]

Back it anytime. The sooner the better.

[gutpile]

since I ve no experience with rawhide and I am wanting to induce some reflex I'll get her bending a bit better on the floor tillering and sinew it...I like to set it in between two chairs and hang a 25 lb weight off handle..I'll let it sit a good month and 1/2..Ive already flipped the tips..she gonna have a nice profile...gonna shoot for 55 @27...