Can I get away without a backing on this one?

[Shiloh]

I've got a red oak board that will (hopefully) be turned into a hunting/training bow for this fall. My question is, with the #48 or so that I'm hoping to get out of it, do you think I could get away without a backing on this one, or should I fork over the cash for linen?

[PEARL DRUMS]

Linen wont help. Grain is everything with boards.

[BOWMAN53]

You can get away with it as long you sand it nice and smooth then put lots of clear shellac. I'm no expert but that's what i did with my last red oak pyramid now that didn't have perfect grain.

[ionicmuffin]

it looks just fine to me. The grain looks as if its fairly strait i dont see why you cant get anything out of it.

[PEARL DRUMS]

You can get away with it as long you sand it nice and smooth then put lots of clear shellac. I'm no expert but that's what i did with my last red oak pyramid now that didn't have perfect grain.

What???

[ionicmuffin]

what ive experienced is that so long as the grain is close to strait it will be just fine, if its slanted diagonally then it might be a problem, but it looks fine!

[bubby]

You can get away with it as long you sand it nice and smooth then put lots of clear shellac. I'm no expert but that's what i did with my last red oak pyramid now that didn't have perfect grain.

What???

x2

[ionicmuffin]

as to you two and not quite understanding him, i believe what he means is that by getting the backing to a very fine point with absolutely no rough edges then there shouldn't be any splinters unless the bow wasn't going to be one anyway. As to the shellac i have no clue what hes talking about lol 

[BOWMAN53]

Don't listen to me lol. I was thinking of potential splinters lifting by the run offs but even then it doesn't really make sense.

[BOWMAN53]

Iconic muffin understands my weirdness lol. As for the shellac, it makes sense in my head that a splinter would have a hard time lifting though a thick layer of clear.

[blackhawk]

Shellac will protect the back the same as air

[Shiloh]

Thanks for the input guys, I'll just sand it nice and smooth, round the corners, and be REALLY careful during tillering. 

[rossfactor]

Grain is far from ideal. However, I think that with a linen backing that bow could easily survive, as long as its well tillered. I think no amount of sanding and shellac will stop grain violations and run-offs from lifting splinters.


Gabe

[Shiloh]

That sounds like a good idea.

[bushboy]

My phone isn't that great to see the detail of photo posted,are pics 234 edge shoots or on the flat?