I am currently working on a red oak pyramid bow. Very straight grain grained board 68" 2.5" at the fades 3/8 at the ends.
After checking the initial tiller, I have noticed several minute hair like splinters on the back. They were extemely tiny and I could basically just brush them off by hand. Is this typical of oak? Would it be safe to proceed tillering? Too dry maybe?
Any board can lift splinters because the grain has been cut through when sawn. You can add a simple backing to help prevent breakage due to splintering. Silk, linen or other cloths will work for this as well as brown grocery bag paper or rawhide. Any of these will work fine for this application and all are easy to apply with carpenters glue.
The kind that you describe are pretty common in red oak. I usually burnish the back of the bow with a hard, smooth, round object like a glass bottle. This will compress the wood fibers. BUT, a simple backing is easy to apply and very effective if that's the way you want to go.
No not typical but it happens. Like Pat said back it. Jawge
Thanks for the advice. The bow had already been burnished, so it looks like I'll be backing it before going any further.
Freeman, I'm just finishing up a red oak board bow in a pyramid style myself. I've been debating on a backing or no backing. It will be interesting to see how yours turns out.
Stan
Grain, Grain, Grain.
http://georgeandjoni.home.comcast.net/~georgeandjoni/archer.html