I'm making a bow for my brother and after glue up I started to sand the backing and noticed some faint curl in the hickory backing. At first I thought it was surface planer chatter but the more I sanded it the clearer the curl showed up. I am not sure if it will show up in a picture but will try to get a shot of it.

My question is does it has a chance to become a bow?

QuoteOriginally posted by scars:
I'm making a bow for my brother and after glue up I started to sand the backing and noticed some faint curl in the hickory backing. At first I thought it was surface planer chatter but the more I sanded it the clearer the curl showed up. I am not sure if it will show up in a picture but will try to get a shot of it.

My question is does it has a chance to become a bow?

Here is a picture
 [/url] [/IMG]

I think you can see the curl. It goes from tip to tip visible but you can't feel it.

Hickory is pretty tough stuff. I've used hickory backing strips with way worse grain than that. I'm not saying it won't fail but I never had one fail.

Thanks Pat,

I just put my tiller string on it and it is almost good, bet I won't have more than 30 minutes on the tiller tomorrow. ( famous last words )

You know what If it survives I may have to put some ebony stain to see what that curl looks like.

Sounds like a plan. Let's see it finished.

Nope, didn't survive. More fire starter.
 [/url] [/IMG]

 [/url] [/IMG]

 [/url] [/IMG]

Oh well glue up another one

That's a fine backer. I don't believe thats why your bow broke.

What glue did you use. If TBII or III you can salvage the belly.

How thick is the backing? I appears to be pretty thick in the pics.

QuoteOriginally posted by red hill:
How thick is the backing? It appears to be pretty thick in the pics.

Both the backing and the belly are just under 3/16. My thoughts where to keep the glue line in the neutral area because of the inner riser.
At Pat sorry unibond 800
At Pearl Drum tell me I want to know (need to know)

On the long line it looked even and I worked it tell it felt like it had settled in. about 25- 30 pulls. About 16 inch pulls.

Shortened tiller string to 3" off the belly pull was about 12". Pulled to about 16" heard a tick, looked didn't see any lifts started to pull again when it snapped.

To me the backing looks good but your corners look very squared off. Maybe more rounding would have saved them?

QuoteOriginally posted by skeaterbait:
To me the backing looks good but your corners look very squared off. Maybe more rounding would have saved them?

Thanks I'll do that.
I'm also going to thin the backing to 1/8" or less.