Would you back this?

[DavidV]

I know these are bad pictures but I need some help. It's quarter sawn white oak and the ray flecks go across at an angle while the rings are perfectly straight. I normally wouldn't be worried but the last bow I made from the same board broke along a ray fleck.

[bow101]

Would like to see the end grain to make an assumption.  But hey why not back it.  Its added insurance.

[DavidV]

That's what I'm thinking, if anything it's something to paint on.

[lebhuntfish]

Wouldn't hurt, especially if you have had a bad experience with a simular board. Patrick

[soy]

Wouldn't hurt, especially if you have had a bad experience with a simular board. Patrick

X2

[4dog]

x3  ,,ya kinda answered yasself. 

[George Tsoukalas]

1/4 saw must have absolutely straight grain on the edge and this one does not appear to have straight grain there.

Back it or don't use it.

Jawge

[nakedfeet]

I wouldn't have bought that board to begin with. I would say definitely back it if you're going to make an attempt.

Seems to me you only see the flecks going off at an angle to the growth rings when the board was cut at an angle to the log. Which, to me, doesn't seem likely to make a durable bow. I saw another board like this months ago and made a little illustration about it. If I can find it I'll post it here.

[Blaflair2]

That's figuring. Bad for business

[blackhawk]

That's figuring. Bad for business

That is actually not figured wood...its the medullary rays showing up in the wood...when oak is cut almost perfectly quartersawn or perfectly 90° to the growth rings the rays in the wood will show up...its one of the reasons why oak is a prized wood

[George Tsoukalas]

Yes, do check the edge grain and as blackhawk said not the rays to make sure the grain lines are straight. I thought I say some run off there but can't tell for sure.

Jawge

[DavidV]

I think other people are looking at the Medulary rays, because those do go across at an angle. The grain is hard to see in the pictures but the back is definately straight and the edge has straight grain where it is parallel( obviously it is going to be at an angle where the limb tapers now that I cut it). I think this is a case of wood having too much earlywood, I forgot to check the endgrain at the store because it came from a 10 foot board. Anyway, I backed it with brown paper like I usually do and I'll post it once it's finished.