>>288763My first bow ever was unbacked. Maple. I found it painstaking chasing that one ring (atleast with the shit tools I had at hand then) and I don't like conforming to the shape of the wood. I want a smooth, symmetrical back, which I guess is only achievable by decrowning. Unless you find the perfect stave.
People say backed bows are practically indestructible.
Dog chew toys are an excellent source of rawhide. Soak it thoroughly in warm water and let it drip dry before gluing. Keep affixed by wrapping the whole package with bandages. I let it dry for days. Titebond 3 is apparently one of the best glues for this.
The dilemma I face is that only kids want bows but I don't want to make little dinkyass 15 lbs kiddybows all the time. This one is hopefully gonna be sweet though. It's the first riser design I feel happy with as of yet and it has a natural, uniform bend through the riser. I intend to steambend lots of reflex into the limbs so the whole thing takes on that beautiful reflex-deflex shape.
Picture is my #2, ~110 cm rawhide backed juniper for a little girl who probably hasn't even strung it since I gave it to her almost two years ago. Shame.
