Im thinking of getting a hickory stave for a long bow. Never had or shot a hickory bow. Have any of you had hickory bow. Not sure on the backing, that is, if I go with hickory.

Hickory isn't an ideal bow wood as far as performance goes, but it's some darn tough stuff. I think it's an ideal wood for a first time bowmaker. Usually clean and straight grained. It'll let you get away with quite a few mistakes and still turn into a shooter.

This is the first ive built from a stave.I was looking at hickory because of what you said. I might go ahead an use it, just to get my feet wet. Ive never carved one, just backed and finished blanks before.

Thanks.

Found a place that sells oak staves, I assume oak would be about the same. I was thinking of backing which ever with glass.

Oak is not the same, as you were told hickory is a good wood for beginners or even pros.
Look into Rudderbows they have some nice staves, now if you decide to back it with something use bamboo, then you will get a super fast shooter.
I Have a #50 Rudderbow with bamboo that still use to this day, although I have my pic of over 60 bows I have made.

I've done that and you are 100% right on that!

I agree with Art--tough wood, not the best performer in a selfbow, probably the best to wet your feet with. I'm going from information I've gotten from talking to some very good, and a couple well-known selfbowyers--never made one myself.

Backing with bamboo will help, but it's not quite that simple. Bow design, how much wood/how much bamboo, etc. makes a big difference. You can just slap a backing on a doggy bow, and you may still wind up with a doggy bow. I've shot bb bows that were not impressive at all, and non-backed bows that were suprisingly fast.

Chad

A plain Hickory selfbow is not the best for performance. The limbs have to be kept very wide in order to minumize string follow. They will shoot, but slow. If you back with bamboo and steam then form a 2" relfex / deflex into the bow, you will have a very nice shooting bow. Very quiet with above average performance.

Thanks guys, this is the info I needed.

If you go the hickory direction, I'd suggest a real good finish. They will retain moisture and retain set.