NEW I've made dozzens of HICKORRY BOWS and the way I do mine have worked fine for 20 years. First thing is debark and seal the whole stave. Then I had 2 to 3 inchs of reflex by ratch straping them down to the barn floor,tips between two saw horses. I use'lly season them at least a year.
Letting them season a year when sealed still lets them season. But helps stop the reltive hummity. (sucking up moisture).
Next when I ready to build a bow. I'll take to as far as tillering. From them on everytime I'm going to ben the limbs. I'll but the bow in a hot box or 10 or 12 mins. This helps get rid of the relitive hummity it sucked up.
If I start with 2 to 3 inchs of reflex I can easy keep it to 1, 1 1/2 reflex when finished. I just finished a 58 " HICKORY A LITTLE WHILE BACK. That kept a inch.
