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Author Topic: Is this black locust sapling big enough to make a useful bow?  (Read 3684 times)

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Offline bennypapa

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Is this black locust sapling big enough to make a useful bow?
« on: April 28, 2016, 06:15:49 am »
I noticed that the landscaping crew had cut down some brush near work and there happened to be a black locust sapling laying there so I grabbed a section.. It's about 7 feet long and about 2" dia at the base. (it looked much larger when I first saw it)

No big loss if it's too small to make anything as I have nothing invested in it.
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Offline okie64

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Re: Is this black locust sapling big enough to make a useful bow?
« Reply #1 on: April 28, 2016, 06:47:17 am »
Treat it like white wood and it should make a fine bow.
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Offline sapling bowyer

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Re: Is this black locust sapling big enough to make a useful bow?
« Reply #2 on: April 28, 2016, 07:03:04 am »
The problem I had with BL saplings similar to yours was that because Bl is so stiff, I had to take a lot of wood to make it bend and because of the small diameter it got scary narrow to make a bow out of. Also is it mostly sapwood? BL density can change tremendously. Yesterday I cut some locust 3 inch in diameter and the stave was perfect. It had a very good ratio of sapwood to heartwood which is rare in locust so you might want to share a photo of your stave.
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Offline George Tsoukalas

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Re: Is this black locust sapling big enough to make a useful bow?
« Reply #3 on: April 28, 2016, 08:24:04 am »
My first shooter was from a 2" sapling. Seal the ends. Take off the bark, prepare it with sanding to get it smooth, and seal it with your poly.

Leave it a few inches longer than you normally would to counteract the crown.

You never really know with any wood. There are no guarantees.

Jawge
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Offline crooketarrow

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Re: Is this black locust sapling big enough to make a useful bow?
« Reply #4 on: April 28, 2016, 09:48:59 am »
  You right GEORGE I've said for years.

   WOOD IS WOOD

  I've made as couple BL sapling bows. If it's 2 inch's  it'll make a bow.
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Offline bennypapa

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Re: Is this black locust sapling big enough to make a useful bow?
« Reply #5 on: April 28, 2016, 06:12:17 pm »
Should I take the bark off now or later?
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Offline bennypapa

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Re: Is this black locust sapling big enough to make a useful bow?
« Reply #6 on: April 28, 2016, 07:14:26 pm »
Quote from: okie64 on April 28, 2016, 06:47:17 am
Treat it like white wood and it should make a fine bow.
How do you treat white wood? (I really don't know what I'm doing)
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Offline Spotted Dog

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Re: Is this black locust sapling big enough to make a useful bow?
« Reply #7 on: April 28, 2016, 08:33:28 pm »
The back of the bow is right under the bark. Strip carefully.
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Offline George Tsoukalas

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Re: Is this black locust sapling big enough to make a useful bow?
« Reply #8 on: April 28, 2016, 10:22:42 pm »
If you do remove the bark, seal the back and ends. If you don't she'll spring some cracks. Ater removing the bark, sand it and stain it (optional) and then poly it. Jawge
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Offline TimBo

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Re: Is this black locust sapling big enough to make a useful bow?
« Reply #9 on: April 30, 2016, 02:51:38 pm »
Usually with black locust (and osage and mulberry) you take off the sapwood and use the heartwood, but this one is so narrow that you have to leave the sapwood.  That means, as already said above, just take the bark off and that is your back (which is how you treat whitewoods like elm, hickory, maple, etc.).  I have had issues with the sapwood checking, so I would probably leave the bark on for now.  It is harder to remove later, but not a big deal.  If you take if off now, definitely seal the back well.
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Offline bennypapa

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Re: Is this black locust sapling big enough to make a useful bow?
« Reply #10 on: April 30, 2016, 10:37:42 pm »
Ah, I see,
Thank you.
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