ahhh.. just the info I was seeking brother.. thank you..I got a small piece off a stave I am going to practice on rings are tight... wanting to get a lot of heartwood in one but still keep a sapwood back.. these staves the sapwood is over an inch thick.. my last bow had only a little heartwood in handle and the one I roughed out to recurve is the same..it has some minor nicks in back now might be able to sand out without violation and bug tracks in recurve area.. those will be static anyway...going to sinew it too so its probably ok... gut