When putting a rawhide backing on yew or juniper, how much, if any, can you violate the natural curves/knots/rings?
Yew can take violations in the growth rings on the back pretty well. I'm not sure about juniper but the rawhide will hold down any of those problems...but is not a miracle cure. With softer woods like yew and juniper I think it should work better. Any time I am in doubt of a wood bow's back I rawhide it!
That's what I was thinking too Pat. Thank you for confirming. I was thinking that yew, and the junipers, (eastern red cedar), were in the same class so could be treated that same.
They are similar, Bona but I haven't had that much experience with either to be an expert. Rawhide is and has traditionally been a good backing material. A little insurance goes a long way for the bows and us! d;^)
I remember reading,where Pope commented that he and Young had severall bow failures with Yew,untill they Started Backing with Rawhide.
If it's good enough for them, it's good enough for me!
Bona