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Author Topic: Black locust revisited  (Read 2887 times)

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Offline Sparrow

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Black locust revisited
« on: February 26, 2012, 10:07:39 pm »
I cut down a Black Locust back in 1999 and took the 1st twelve feet of it for staves. (I am working on the last one now)  Me and a buddy went down to that place last month and the rest of it was still sitting right where I'd left it. I had the butt sitting up on a 55 gallon drum that was laying nearby and it was still propped up there.I couldn't believe it. We went back yesterday with splitting gear and cut two more 6 ft. logs and split 'em. Dry and seasoned and not a bug hole anywhere. Take a look  '  Frank
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Frank (The Sparrow) Pataha, Washington

Offline OlympicPeninsula

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Re: Black locust revisited
« Reply #1 on: February 26, 2012, 10:13:52 pm »
What type of areas should i look for black locust in western washington?
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Offline Sparrow

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Re: Black locust revisited
« Reply #2 on: February 26, 2012, 10:23:56 pm »
I dunno !  I cut this one on the columbia river bank downstream from McNary Dam.Whole forest of them down there. Perhaps they grow along the river over there on the west side as well. With vine maple,yew and oak over on your side of the state,I don't reckon you lack for bow wood,eh ?   good luck on the hunt.  '  Frank
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Frank (The Sparrow) Pataha, Washington

Offline George Tsoukalas

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Re: Black locust revisited
« Reply #3 on: February 26, 2012, 10:26:10 pm »
Great looking cache. Have fun. Jawge
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Offline beetlebailey1977

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Re: Black locust revisited
« Reply #4 on: February 26, 2012, 10:47:08 pm »
Nothing wrong with that......
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Offline HickoryBill

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Re: Black locust revisited
« Reply #5 on: February 27, 2012, 12:03:57 am »
Looks like a pile of sweet bows to me..Nice ring ratio for bl as well
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Offline ErictheViking

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Re: Black locust revisited
« Reply #6 on: February 27, 2012, 12:10:17 am »
Great looking haul. nice big rings too.
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Offline SyF

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Re: Black locust revisited
« Reply #7 on: February 27, 2012, 12:39:59 am »
Quote from: Sparrow on February 26, 2012, 10:07:39 pm
I cut down a Black Locust back in 1999 ...

Holy cow! 12 years and the woods still good.

I just split a stave yesterday from a friends farm - lying in the mud for a year or so - the  cambium had some rot but the wood looks great.
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Offline toomanyknots

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Re: Black locust revisited
« Reply #8 on: February 27, 2012, 12:47:56 am »
That looks so much like osage...
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"The way of heaven is like the bending of a bow-
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Offline Sparrow

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Re: Black locust revisited
« Reply #9 on: February 27, 2012, 03:31:58 pm »
I'd thought I'd heard that locust and osage were related,but that would be trusting my memory,can't do it. They do look alot alike(End rings) in pictures. Makes good bows.  '  Frank
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Frank (The Sparrow) Pataha, Washington

Offline Pat B

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Re: Black locust revisited
« Reply #10 on: February 27, 2012, 03:47:46 pm »
Locust and osage are not related but their wood looks and works similar. Like osage locust is also rot resistant. Lots of fence posts here are and have been made from locust. I have pulled locust fence posts out of the ground and made bows with them. They were so old the barbed wire and staples had rusted away, all that was left was a dark stain.
  Frank even though those staves look and feel dry I guarentee they aren't if they were exposed to environment. You will have to dry them before making bows just like with other woods. Be sure to seal, ASAP, the backs and ends of all of it before storing it or it will check.
  I don't think locust is indiginous to Oregon or Washington. I believe it was brought in for shelter belts and erosion prevention...and maybe even for fence posts.
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Offline Badger

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Re: Black locust revisited
« Reply #11 on: February 27, 2012, 04:08:31 pm »
   About 1 year before I started making bows I took out about 50 black locusts that were tall and straight from growing very close together. Been kicking myself ever since. Steve
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Offline Sparrow

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Re: Black locust revisited
« Reply #12 on: February 27, 2012, 08:23:13 pm »
Pat B    I did indeed seal them suckers and they are on the drying rack in the barn. I've got several staves ahead of them and a I will moisture meter them before working 'em.   50 nice straight trees gone ! Steve, Thats a shame,BL makes nice bows.  '  Frank
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Frank (The Sparrow) Pataha, Washington

Offline Pat B

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Re: Black locust revisited
« Reply #13 on: February 27, 2012, 08:24:47 pm »
We have lots of it around here.
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Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC
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