Hickory backing strip question

[Woody roberts]

While deer hunting this year I ran across a cedar tree that had blown down. This was a riverbottom cedar that is long, straight and no limbs for a good ways. I cut a 6’ chunk and split it into quarters so I could handle it. Got the 4 very straight fence posts drying in the barn rafters.

Now the question. Since I want to back this with hickory does the hickory slat need to be split out or can it be sawn? Can I split it like shingles? Or do I peel the bark and reduce from the heart to 3/16” or so?

[Pat B]

The hickory backing strips I cut were from lumber. I cut them to 3/8" and after sanding both sides it came out to 1/8" or slightly less. Hickory can have some grain violations and still be suitable for backings. You just don't want it with severe violations.
 If the sapwood of the cedar is sound and thick enough  and clear(no knots)you can build a bow with it. 

[Woody roberts]

This has been down a couple years. The sap wood is suspect I believe.

[Pat B]

Has it been on the ground? If so the whole log is suspect. Very little rot resistance with hickory.

[PatM]

Think he might mean the cedar has been down.  Is this ERC?

[Woody roberts]

 The cedar has been down awhile. I haven’t cut a hickory yet.i don’t know what kind it is. Here in this area the cedars are more Christmas tree like. But where I was raised on the current river cedars that sprouted in tall timber grew tall and straight. Barn building material. Same way with the Osage trees.
I assume it’s ERC. I could be wrong, I often am.

[Pat B]

Where do you live?

[Woody roberts]

Southern MO

[Pat B]

Could easily be ERC. If it has been on the ground for a while the sapwood is probably not useable. The heartwood is rot resistant but not so much the sapwood.

[Woody roberts]

The heartwood looks really good. The sapwood not so much

[Pat B]

Don't trust the sapwood. That is where the tension strains will be.