BBO

[rmjames]

When making a BBO bow does the osage have to be taken down to one ring or does the backing make that unnecessary??
I have some 2 inch thick osage boards that are about 3 feet long and am wondering if I can splice the pieces together in the handle area and then back with bamboo and make a decent bow...
thanks, Rick

[HoBow]

That'll work fine.  With the backing, you do not have to chase a ring.   Good luck!

[rmjames]

OK, Thanks
Since chasing a ring is not required then what would be the desired grain orientation for a BBO bow?
Rick

[woodsrunner]

  Quarter sawn is good, but flat/back sawn works as well just watch for grain run off, the less run off the better.

[sailordad]

  Quarter sawn is good, but flat/back sawn works as well just watch for grain run off, the less run off the better.

dont know if this is necassary for a backed bow
i have made a few boo backed hick bows that the grain was horrible(i mean HORRIBLE ) in the hickory
runoffs all over the place,they are still shooting.i have one yet as my own bow.crappy piece of hickry backed with an uneven (in thickness) piece of boo
i made this to show that the back nor the belly had to be "primo" pieces to make a bow from