I picked up a floor tillered hickory backed hickory stave from a very generous member here. You can see from the picture that it has some deflex to it. Would it be possible to add some reflex to it. I want to use it as my trade bow instead of a board bow.
(http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v210/willieb18/Snapbucket/?action=view¤t=BE640F88-orig.jpg)
HBH doesnt need rawhide. Nope, you cant do anymore than build it. The reflex would need to be added at glue up.
It's not HBH its just a hickory stave backed with rawhide. So I can't flip the tips or anything because of the glue?
Your post says hickory backed hickory. Anywho I have used heat on rawhide backed bows before, TBIII was used and the glue held fine for me. Depending on your skill level I dont suggest it unless you have a VERY good feel for the heat adn how much your giving it.
You don't need rawhide within 10" of the tips anyhow, so if you do damage the hide by heating, just remove it and clean the ends of the rawhide up with a nice wrap of some sort. Better yet, just remove the rawhide on the tips before heating.
Good thought Artsy.
It does say HBH I apologise I'm posting from my phone. Thanks for the reply though, I will leave it as is due to skill level.
I wouldnt give up just yet copper! Artsy's idea of peeling the rawhide back 12" or so would work great! You could add an 1/8" colored band at the end to spice it up. And be able to flip tips without worry. I say go for it and have some fun.