Sap wood on a Black Locust

[ssgtchad]

Need some help....advise. Does all the sapwood need to be removed for a BL bow. Thanks for the help!

[George Tsoukalas]

Yes, if you have enough heartwood take off the sapwood. If not then get as close as you can to the heartwood. Jawge

[randman]

I have been wondering the same thing myself. I just acquired a really nice BL branch. What if you just decrowned the back of smaller branch (2 3/8") down to the heartwood to maintain enough width for an acceptable bow. As long as the rings are parallel and straight lines down the surface of the back (looking similar to quartersawn boards) it should be OK shouldn't it? Even though there is still some sapwood on the outside corners of the back?
Sorry Sgt. don't mean to hijack but this might (or not) apply in your case as well.

[mikekeswick]

I have been wondering the same thing myself. I just acquired a really nice BL branch. What if you just decrowned the back of smaller branch (2 3/8") down to the heartwood to maintain enough width for an acceptable bow. As long as the rings are parallel and straight lines down the surface of the back (looking similar to quartersawn boards) it should be OK shouldn't it? Even though there is still some sapwood on the outside corners of the back?
Sorry Sgt. don't mean to hijack but this might (or not) apply in your case as well.

That would work just fine.

[George Tsoukalas]

Yes, it would but it would be better to leave the branch a few inches longer and the back intact. Decrowning is unnecessary if the stave can be left longer. Jawge

[Jude]

Having had a bad experience with BL sapwood, I would say lose it all, just my opinion.  I'm also thinking that BL likes a crowned back and a flat belly, doesn't it?  Though the sapwood on the corners of a decrowned branch might not be adding much tension compared to the heartwood in the middle.  I would still round the corners off the sapwood to avoid a splinter

[ssgtchad]

Thanks everyone, I was hoping that the sap wood was okay,.guess I got alot of draw knife work ahead of me.

[George Tsoukalas]

Depends on how much heartwood you have. Do you have enough to make a bow? Jawge

[ssgtchad]

I don't think so sir, plus there was some short of borrowing critter are down the entire length in the heart. The stave is about 74” and nice and straight.