Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: TimothyR on April 03, 2020, 07:54:45 pm
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Is this black locust? And do you have to take sapwood off or can a layer be left on?
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I'm pretty sure that's BL. I haven't used any for 15 years but I remember the popular consensus was that you could leave up to to 1/3 of the limb thickness sapwood for a natural backing.
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I made a bl bow that was almost all sapwood in the limbs, because the tree was too small to do otherwise. It was a great bow and finally failed in compression when over-drawn.
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Looks like BL to me. The bigger tree in the 2nd pic looks like it has quite a twist to it.
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I agree with Pat on both counts.
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Looks like BL to me. The bigger tree in the 2nd pic looks like it has quite a twist to it.
Pat. That pic was just added for bark reference. I cut a larger one down in the same area. and peeled the bark off. I just wanted to make sure that it was bl as I thought it was. The one I cut is pretty straight, 10' long and 5" at the base. I think I can get a couple bows out of it. Didn't know if I should take the sapwood off or not.
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Yes BL will grow in colonies.Where there is one others usually are there too.
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I agree that is black locust.
I recently made a bow out of black locust that ended up almost all sapwood. There is just a small amount of heart wood on the belly. It turned out to look really nice and has decent performance. I am currently working on another in which I am chasing a sap wood ring so I end up with more heart wood so the contrast is sap and heart wood is more even. I am hopeful this one will be even better.
Good luck with your black locust.
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Yep, I would say that is BL. Small thorns, right? I can't zoom in enough to tell. My experience with BL leads me to take the sapwood off. It has checked on me really badly when just"peeled and sealed". I have a couple of staves now that I didn't have time to work down to heartwood, so I left the bark on. The sapwood is a real bugger to get off once it is dried. I think if the sapwood is thick and you like the contrast, I would chase down to the last ring or two before the heartwood.
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Do you see the long seed pods?
I've made many BL bows and learned on it.
If you do not have enough heartwood then you can lead the sapwood.
Jawge
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I have tried the sap wood method with agonizing results. The backs would either break, or the bellies fretted. Probably me , not the wood. I made 4 with no luck with that wood. Then I found a thicker ringed log ,and chased a clean ring into the heart wood. All of those came out good with no breaks, or frets, so I favor chasing a heart wood ring with Black Locust . Same thing with Osage. JMO. Good luck with yours.
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Here is the one I cut. Should be able to get 1 or 2 bows out of it. Hopefully
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More
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Timothy, just because the tree is straight doesn't mean it's not twisted. Have you split it yet?
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Timothy, just because the tree is straight doesn't mean it's not twisted. Have you split it yet?
Not yet
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Looks like enough heartwood there for a bow? If yes, don't leave a sapwood back. Jawge
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George has done as many if not more locust bows as anyone here on PA. I'd listen to his suggestions. :OK
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I split the log today. Got a set of billets and 2 bow staves. One will have to be a bendy handle though. I'll post pics tomorrow. thanks all!