Chasing rings

[Justin.schmidt23]

Well I'm getting ready to shape out my first bow from a stave. It's hackberry that I just cut down about a week or so ago. Imy not going to tiller it or anything just get it to a rough bow shape. So I was wondering if I have to chase a ring with this wood like you do with others such as osage. Thank you in advance.

[FilipT]

I think not, in most white woods first ring under bark is the back of the bow. Exceptions are woods like osage, black locust and mulberry. Their sapwood needs to be removed in most cases and that means ring chasing to first ring of the heartwood.
I am going to chase ring of the black locust tomorrow for my pyramid bow project.

[SLIMBOB]

First ring under the bark will work.

[Justin.schmidt23]

Ok thanks gents

[bjrogg]

If you just harvested it you will probably want to seal the back of the bow to keep it from drying to fast and checking ( drying cracks) also seal the ends of the stave.
Bjrogg

[Mad Max]

If you just harvested it you will probably want to seal the back of the bow to keep it from drying to fast and checking ( drying cracks) also seal the ends of the stave.
Bjrogg

x 2
very Important

[Justin.schmidt23]

If you just harvested it you will probably want to seal the back of the bow to keep it from drying to fast and checking ( drying cracks) also seal the ends of the stave.
Bjrogg

I haven't removed the bark yet cause all I had was some white paint so I used that on the ends. But I just picked up some poly sealer today so I'm gonna debark them tonight and seal em up

[JW_Halverson]

That'll do just fine.  I tend to put on three coats.  First one goes on with the spray can sweeping along parallel with the length of the stave.  Second one angles 45 degrees to the stave with short strokes.  The third is again at 45 degrees to the stave, but now perpendicular to the second coat. 

I know, I know, sounds like overkill, but when I started this (and even now) I was in a bow wood desert and the loss of even a single stave was devastating.  I developed this technique after a stave developed a lot of checks where my tightwad cheap instincts tried to save on a $8 can of poly. 

[Pat B]

How big is the log?  If over 4" to 5" I would split the log in half lengthwise to give the moisture a place to escape.

[Justin.schmidt23]

How big is the log?  If over 4" to 5" I would split the log in half lengthwise to give the moisture a place to escape.

That's what I ended up doing. This has some very strange  bark. It's got nobs then they're is a VERY hard second layer.  I don't have a draw knife yet so I had to use a chisel. Never again.  It took 4 hours to debark it lol

[Joec123able]

You don't HAVE to chase a ring on any wood just a Handful have better heart wood but the sap wood would still work fine.

[sleek]

Also, on osage, you dont HAVE to chase a ring either. Just future reference. Most chase a ring, i like the sapwood look.