Back of stave question.

[JWMALONE]

Hello Guys. I'm debarking this stave while my other hickory is rehydrating. So I watched a video didn't cut or dent the back so were good. Question is at this point how smooth and or flat does the back need to be. Have a few small spots that are a lil low and still have the grayer fibrous layer on it. What else do I need to do to the back before I start roughing out the basic shape. Or do I wait so I can make adjustments to the back depending on other things?

[Pat B]

John, that is the camo pattern I was referring too, the cambium(dark stuff) in contrast to the wood itself. The wood under the bark and the cambium is as pristine as you can get.  Some of that cambium will probably come off but there is no chance of bow damage if it does. If it were me, I'd leave the back as it is and get the bow cut to shape and start tillering.

[JWMALONE]

Thanks Pat, I wasn't referring to the stuff that makes the camo pattern rather the lil indentions with the coconut texture . No where have heard anything about them so I'm assuming its good like it is.

[Pat B]

Will you post a pic of that (coconut texture).I'm not sure I understand.

[k-hat]

Pat I think he's referring to the fibrous stuff from the leftover cambium.  Generally smooths out with sanding if that is what you're talking about JW.

She's gonna be a beauty JW!

[JWMALONE]

K-Hat, that's the stuff its in a little dimple or slight depression  I guess ya could say. just wondering if I could leave it.

[bjrogg]

JWMALONE. Like Pat said you can just leave it. Less chance violating ring if you leave it. If you really want to get it off and have a high pressure power washer you can get it off with that real slick. I posted a thread about a year ago " removing winter Bark and cambium with power washer". Like Pat said some might come off tillering bow.
Bjrogg

[JWMALONE]

Thanks guys, I'm going to go with it as is should match my loin cloth.

[kbear]

Wow.....man..... that is a real nice stave.....

[George Tsoukalas]

Looks good as is. Jawge

[k-hat]

JW are you floor tillered yet?

What kind of wood is it?  Looks like a lot of the elm I've used, though I can't say I've had a stave that clean AND straight.  Great specimen for first stave bow.

[PatM]

  All of those white spots are where you knocked the tops off the outer ring ridges.   The spots where the inner bark still sits are the valleys.
    Not too many trees actually grow with a smooth outer surface.

[JWMALONE]

K-Hat, its hickory.

[DC]

If you do want to remove all the bark and such just spritz it with water, let it sit for a minute or so and scrape it with something that isn't too hard. A fingernail works.
 I've used coarse steel wool. One caveat, I've never worked Hickory but it works a treat on Yew and OS. Probably let it dry for a day

[k-hat]

Cool, should make a sweet bow.  Might I recommend tempering that baby if you haven't already planned on it?