Any bowyers out there? I need some advice.

[Lone Bonobo]

I'm making a longbow of yew, and i have some issues:

The sapwood looks pretty thick, is it agood idea to thin it?

To back or not to back? was thinking of backing it with rawhide? comments?

If i'm going to back the bow, should i still follow the contour of the back when thinning the sapwood?

 

[bent-stick]

You only need max 5mm sapwood, If it is thicker than that take it down to a ring,

The sapwood is the backing so no, make it a nice simple self bow. backing a yew bow is almost sacriledge on my book Yes you need to follow the back contours leaving it strong around any knots. That's one of the consequences of not breaching any growth rings.

 

[Snufkin]

You only need max 5mm sapwood, If it is thicker than that take it down to a ring,

The sapwood is the backing so no, make it a nice simple self bow. backing a yew bow is almost sacriledge on my book Yes you need to follow the back contours leaving it strong around any knots. That's one of the consequences of not breaching any growth rings.

I agree with everything said above.
If you were thinking of backing with sinew I would remove all the sapwood.