Author Topic: Black Locust  (Read 1521 times)

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Offline Markus

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Black Locust
« on: December 30, 2017, 06:23:30 pm »
Long ago I read that this wood species is weak in compression or was it weak in tension. I cannot remember which. Help, anybody. Thanks.

Offline upstatenybowyer

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Re: Black Locust
« Reply #1 on: December 30, 2017, 06:42:59 pm »
In my experience it's an awesome bow wood with a few considerations to keep in mind... Heat treating works wonders, but may result in the belly overpowering the back which could lead to tension failure. The other thing is it tends to chrysal with an over-stressed design.
"Even as the archer loves the arrow that flies, so too he loves the bow that remains constant in his hands."

Nigerian Proverb

Offline aaron

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Re: Black Locust
« Reply #2 on: December 30, 2017, 07:16:43 pm »
weaker in compression- prone to crysals. Otherwise excellent. make the belly very flat
Ilwaco, Washington, USA
"Good wood makes great bows, but bad wood makes great bowyers"

Offline Pat B

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Re: Black Locust
« Reply #3 on: December 30, 2017, 07:51:58 pm »
Black locust is not weak in compression, actually it is one of the strongest North American woods in compression. The problem is it is brittle and tends to fret if the tiller isn't spot on.  Locust makes a great bow but not for the weak of heart.
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline George Tsoukalas

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    • Traditional and Primitive Archers
Re: Black Locust
« Reply #4 on: December 31, 2017, 07:42:33 am »
I like BL very much. I cut my bow teeth on it.
I heat treated my last BL bow and it did very well with it.
I do believe there is a regional difference in BL but can't move it.
Northern BL i s pretty good.
Jawge
Set Happens!
If you ain't breakin' you ain't makin!