Recent Posts

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Bows / Re: Black locusts bow
« Last post by sleek on December 05, 2025, 05:50:13 pm »
Those cracks are likely from the stave getting wet in the rain then drying out again. Id ignore them and press on. Have you heat treated the bow yet? Id fill the cracks with epoxy or superglue, but not until the heat treatment is finished, if you are going to.
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Bows / Re: Black locusts bow
« Last post by Selfbowman on December 05, 2025, 05:12:21 pm »
Brace pic.
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Bows / Re: Black locusts bow
« Last post by Selfbowman on December 05, 2025, 04:44:43 pm »
The bow weighs 32.5 oz now. .45 in in thickness at mid limb.
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Bows / Re: Black locusts bow
« Last post by Selfbowman on December 05, 2025, 04:39:57 pm »
Ok update. The bow has taken on cracks long ways . I sealed the back with true oil because it’s finished . I checked the moisture it was at 10% . What is ideal moisture content for BL?  It’s 45@ 23” right now. No sign of set or frets yet. Should I let it set for a couple weeks and keep weighing it?
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Bows / Re: Black locusts bow
« Last post by Jim Davis on December 05, 2025, 02:45:33 pm »
Check my earlier comments on thickness: Right thinness to avoid frets and set, width to provide strength.

My prediction is that 2-3/8" width will not produce #50 at 28" without set/frets/fracture. Hope I'm wrong.
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Bows / Re: sturgeon bladder glue
« Last post by WhistlingBadger on December 05, 2025, 02:30:21 pm »
Yeah, I think anybody who has ever cooked a pot-roast, had the gristle render down to gelatine, then had a little bit of that gelatine dry on a utensil or counter top knows exactly how hide glue was invented.   ;D  Once someone figured that out with mammal gristle, it wouldn't be a huge leap to fish bladders.

Now, the first person who ever milked a cow?  That dude just didn't have both oars in the water.
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Bows / Re: Black locusts bow
« Last post by bentstick54 on December 05, 2025, 01:20:58 pm »
Watching closely. I’ve only tried black locust once and turned out to be a bad log that had a lot of punky wood inside that I could not get past. Hoping to learn some more from your experience.
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Bows / Re: Black locusts bow
« Last post by Selfbowman on December 05, 2025, 12:30:46 pm »
Roughed the handle out so I could get an idea on mass weight. Getting close.
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Primitive Skills / Re: Life is good
« Last post by Pappy on December 05, 2025, 08:34:38 am »
Ya BJ I hope they keep doing well around here, never really seen them cause much problems like the yotes do and love watching them play and hunt. :) Headed for my MRI this morning, not scared of much but sure don't like being put in a pipe where I can't move, just as Miss Joanie says
"suck it up buttercup" I guess. ??? Then plan on heading to the cabin, got another deer to cut and package and if the sun will finely shine scrape on my hides, who knows what else  :-\ :) May even do a little hunting if the shoulder will hold up. Hope yall have a good one also. Life is Good.  :)
 Pappy
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Bows / Re: Black locusts bow
« Last post by M2A on December 05, 2025, 02:02:45 am »
Looking forward to what you can get out of this piece. Never tried to go that wide with bl. I’d think you’ll be under 3/8 in thickness on the working limbs when it’s all done. Iirc that’s about the thickness I’d end up with 2” limbs at 50ish pounds and good locust. And looks like you got some quality stuff there.
Mike
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