Black Locust Dimensions

[TarzanMan]

Hi. I just need some quick opinions on black locust now dimensions.  I have a stave that stripped down to a single GR and is 64 inches long.  Ready to run a straight line and find my center but I am unsure as to how much width on the limbs.  I have made a hickory bow with 1.5 inch limb width but surely a black locust how would be thinner.  Let me know! Thanks.

[Pat B]

I'd go 1 1/2" for the locust too. Locust is a very hard hardwood but it is brittle and can fret easily if overstressed. Locust handles belly tempering well and it will improve it's compression values.

[George Tsoukalas]

1.5 in is fine. Jawge

[bigcountry]

IMO, don't go wide.  Less than 1.5".  Reasoning is, locust has good tension, but brittle compression.  Less backing, less chance to ruin the belly.  Some say the opposite, but I have found narrow is better.  Just my findings.

[Swampman]

I would say 1 1/2 inch wide too.  I have had good luck at that width. 

[dantolin]

I also would go for< 1"1/2 
Nice wood to work with, but it varies a lot from tree to tree. I had some very dense ones and other like almost normal ash...
Good luck and enjoy
David

[Jim Davis]

OK, I'm the spoiler here. I'd go 2" wide. I've made a lot of locust bows. My reasoning is that wider means thinner and more able to take the bending without chrysals.

[mikekeswick]

Yup me too. I would start at 2 inches then narrow during tillering if necessary. Trap the back and heat treat the belly. Magic wood. I wish it grew here.....Oh and forget your stringline - follow the grain!

[Springbuck]

Start wider.  1.5" is a good place to finish, maybe, but not such a great place to start.  My own BL bows are wider than that, unless pretty long, and you only have 64".