So I have a belly split of hickory that is wonderfully shaped to make a 2" wide pyramid bow. I have 1 1/2" backing strips :( Question is should i center the backing strip and trap the back its entire length utilizing the 1 1/2" strip or cut the backing strips down the middle and edge glue them and make 2" wide strips. I have enough strips for this. Another idea is to lay out the backing strip, cut off the taper and add those pieces to the area near the handle that wont be covered, glue together and proceed as above.
Would a glue line running the length of the bow be compromised with use. That is my main concern. I am thinking of skinning the bow in some way, which will hide the glue lines.
For future reference I would still like to hear what people have to say, however I have had the good fortune to realize that my backing strips have stretched in width and are now 2" wide. :) Think I'll go read that thread about measuring twice.
I would have just made a 1-1/2" bow. I see no good in only backing part of the bow if that was what you meant.
I thought of that John, but the profile of the split had one side almost perfectly tapered to a pyramid design and I don't think I could have gotten the right profile. I was thinking of centering the backing and trapping the back and seeing if that would leave the back fully covered.
I wouldn't do that. Just find another piece. Make a selfbow out of the hickory or back it with rawhide for protection or sinew for so umph.