I saw a video on youtube the other day where a fellow was instructing people to flex the limbs of a self bow backwards after it is unstrung in order to take some of the set out of the limbs. It seems to me like this wouldn't be great for your bow, maybe even develope cracks over time. What do you guys think?

It is about the worse think you can do to a selfbow.  By doing this you are not removing the cause of the set and have a good chance of breaking the bow. The limbs might look a little straighter but as soon as you string the bow it will go right back to where it was before so you are only fooling your vision.

I agree with Pat, not a good practice. That's the worst advice I've seen on the net in a while.

Dano, I guess we will have to agree to agree sometimes! d;^)

I agree Pat  

I did this last year out of a moment on inattention and ended up with a 3 piece yew longbow.  Not only did it break, kinda exploded.

I don't mean to be rude, but whoever said this, should be horsewhipped.

I agree! It Deja Vu all over again!

First I must say I have found lot of Great info in the pages of this site, thanks for that guys, many of your bows are works of art.

I am stripping down some Moso Boo and yew for a H, Hill type ALB not sure on the riser yet may be zebra-wood.
Getting  hold of glass lams and Smooth on in England is a pain, I may have to make up my own from Uni dir glass and epoxy resin.  

Flexing bow limbs backwards.
A few months ago I was stupid enough to try and bend out a small set in one of my old English longbow I didn't put a great deal of pressure on it and crack
the brake went through three of the four laminations, yew/ lemonwood /purple-heart and split down the hickory backing glue joint, I have glued and clamped it up, but I'm not holding my breath on it being a useful bow.
Lesson learnt.

Ron.

I only flex my limbs backwards when I have already decided that I need a new bow......

HEY HONEY I BROKE ANOTHER ONE!!! MUST BE BAD LUCK....

I like that Nate, I gotta use that one in the future.