Preferred thickness for hickory backing

[Flntknp17]

Easy question for you all (hopefully).  I am planning on backing an osage board with a hickory slat.  I plan to cut my hickory slats from hickory lumber.  I have made a lot of osage bows, and a lot of hickory bows.....but I have not made a hickory backed osage bow for unknown reasons.  What is the ideal thickness for the hickory?  I plan on making a conservatively designed longbow 66" and 1.75" wide at the fades and ~50@27.  All thoughts are appreciated. 

Thanks

Matt

[willie]

All thoughts are appreciated

I suppose knowing why you want to add a hickory back might make a difference. Are you hoping for some gains?

[Flntknp17]

I am backing because the osage is a board stave and will require backing.  I bought a large osage board last month and sawed it into lumber staves.  I’ve done this same thing before with bamboo and osage boards, just haven’t used hickory for it before. 

Matt

[Pat B]

I cut hickory backing strips at 3/16" thick. After dressing both surfaces it usually ends up at 1/8" or slightly less. And, you don't need 1.75" for a 66" osage bow. 1 3/8" to 1 5/8" is plenty enough for a 66" long 50@26" osage bow. Add about 4" of Perry reflex at glue up and end up with 1" of reflex to a flat bow after shooting it in.

[Flntknp17]

Thanks.  I use a standard perry reflex of 3” for most all my board bows and it seems to work out prett well.  The start out 1.75, but I often do some shaping and sculpting and symmetry adjustments so they end up a little less.  I’m making a bow for a compound shooting buddy who’s interested in longbows so I’m just going for durability and stability 😄

[Pat B]

Hickory backed osage makes a great bow and a lot easier to make than boo backed bows. I've made many over the years. I actually prefer hickory as a backing material. Less work and for me more durable.

[bownarra]

Hickory thickness - 3/16ths to a 1/4"
 

[bassman]

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