Ok so a board is a piece of lumber I buy ata store.

A stave is a pice of wood split from a harvested tree and dried used to make a bow.

am I right so far?

Is it possible to take a pice of board lumber say hicory 3"x3" and shave it down like you would a rough stave.

Could you do this and take it to one ring like normal stave, and if so would it be the same?

Would this still be a board bow, or a board stave, or what?

Sorry, just some question that pooped in there and I had to get it out of my head.

Thanks

Kevin

When a wavy log is passed through a lumber mill the saw indiscriminately cuts straight lines through the log to make boards.  The board is straight but the annual rings, being wavy, travel in and out of the board at any and all angles.  For strength you want those annual rings to stay within the board as much as possible, ideally running parallel to the long edges of the board.

With hand tools the bow board (stave) can be cut out of the log by following the annual rings from beginning to end, thus giving you the ideal piece of wood.

I just did exactly what you are talking about with a Hickory wheelbarrow handle from a big box store. I ended up cutting it down to use as a kid's bow, but yes, I chased a ring just like with a stave.

Its classification really doesnt matter. Would it be a better board bow if the back was one ring? I fully believe so.

A board used for a bow is also a stave.

If the board was milled at an angle, no way you can chase a ring. You could only do so on a  plain sawn piece anyway. As Steve said, choose a straight grained piece and  it won't matter. More on my site. Jawge
http://georgeandjoni.home.comcast.net/~georgeandjoni/index.html

Look at George's site he has at the bottom of his post. He's got it all there for you to read and learn!

Assess Pat recommended, George's site will answer a lot of your questions.  In addition, the second thread on this forum has a bowyer's dictionary compiled by Bowjunkie that is very helpful.

Theoretically a flat back and belly are most efficient. So if your growth rings are straight no real need to chase a ring. Spend your time chasing the best board in the stack and you'll be fine.

FWIW sometimes when people have tree staves, they "decrown" them meaning they flatten the rounded back of the bow until it's flat, much like a board.

Traditional Bowyers Bible 1-4, George's site as he mentioned, PoorFolkBows (Sam Harper's site), 4estTrekkers bow buildalong, there are other board bow buildalongs I cant think of right now but you can search them on here or search engine.